Douhua:A Not-So-Simple Sweet Treat

Douhua, usually translated as “tofu pudding” or “soybean pudding,” is a widely available and highly popular street-food sweet treat in Taiwan, though it has also been served to foreign dignitaries at state banquets. It looks like a simple dish, but Taiwanese are very particular about their douhua. It has to have a delicate texture and the syrup must be sweet but not cloying. There is a dazzling array of accompanying ingredients, from peanuts and jelly cake to taro balls, and many Taiwanese have their own “tofu pudding classic.”