MWTmwt@mastodon.nz
Sep 20, 2026, 2:03 AMToday I learned that tofu imported from overseas is a quarter of the price of tofu made in New Zealand. o.O
Replies
Sep 20, 2026, 3:49 AM@mwt where are you getting it? This stuff is NZ made and cheap. Roughly $5 for 650g (honestly can't remember price but in this ballpark). I get it from an Asian Supermarket in Hamilton. Looks better when not frozen!
- MWTmwt@mastodon.nzSep 20, 2026, 8:57 AM
@Niall hmm, not seen that one before that I know of. The Asian supermarket is where I'm finding affordable tofu, and the packaging is in various east Asian languages, so I assume it's imported.
Meanwhile the brands in the standard duopolies are in English with the usual obligatory origin stories of the local manufacturers. And are quite expensive.
- Sep 20, 2026, 9:24 AM
@mwt from my packaging you could try emailing taochen1971@gmail.com and asking if they have stockists near you?
I'm half-tempted to email and see what it would cost for half a freezer full! (The other half has Wallaby mince for the dog so we can both be bulk-buying preppers...) - MWTmwt@mastodon.nzSep 20, 2026, 9:30 AM
@Niall I took a closer look at the packaging of the tofu in tonight's dinner, and it has a website. So I went there and it turns out they have a factory in Auckland. Whodathunk! It was on sale, $4 for 850g (in two blocks).
robloblawrobloblaw@mastodon.socialSep 20, 2026, 4:51 AM@mwt
Is it because of the deliciously neurotoxic hexane used to make it?
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/03/18613829.php
Does local tofu have hexane residue rules?- MWTmwt@mastodon.nzSep 20, 2026, 9:14 AM
@robloblaw I took a quick look around via search engine (whatever Vivaldi uses), and see that hexane is widely used to extract oil from seeds. So, that would make all vegetarian cooking oils a concern.
I don't think it carries over to tofu though. For one, tofu isn't about separating out the oil from the rest of the soybean. Making it at home from whole soybeans is pretty simple and has been done for thousands of years without using hexane. So I'm disinclined to become alarmed about it in my store-bought tofu (whether made domestically or otherwise).
