Stinky tofu is much milder in flavor than aroma. At least the stuff I ate in both Yunnan and Taiwan was, Hunan may have a different kind.

I found it incredibly tasty, like a mild gorgonzola. Fried or boiled in soup are both amazing.

In Taiwan it's super convenient because as soon as you get punched in the nose by the aroma of hot, unwashed crotch you can follow that scent and you'll almost always reach an amazing night market with a range of delicious food and other vendors.

The design is very Hunan

Hey at least they tried it. I’ll give them props for that.

I probably wouldn’t based on the name, if I’m being honest.

I ate lots of deep fried mild beige stinky tofu in Taiwan. Once I had a meal with a bit of old grey stinky tofu - the smell of summer garbage was disturbing. Try the slightly aged mild beige stuff first.

While we're at it, try a translucent thousand year egg too, preferably as part of a dessert. Not bad, just weird.

It always amazes me the types of things humans come up with to eat. I can only assume the origins were from necessity and became part of culture, rather than someone's idea out of the blue or for a dare.

Has anyone else bought a durian fruit even after being warned about it? Talk about acquired tastes...

I like to put superfirm tofu in a salt water brine, the chuck it in the back of the fridge for about two months (I always have three bricks going). I have no idea if that is what stinky tofu is but it tastes like a delicious and mild ~~blue cheese~~ when crumbled.

PS: If you let it sit for just two weeks, it tastes like a salty Queso Fresco.

EDIT: I just tasted it. It is bang on feta cheese.

Had stinky tofu with curdled pig's blood in Taipei a while back. The people I was visiting had me try it at a night market. The smell was much worse than the texture or flavor. I could totally see someone who had grown up with it considering it comfort food.

Helped that we had all had a fair bit to drink already.

It is hard to get past the smell. But if you can, it's very good.

Always heed the words of the Master, grasshoppers....

A few months ago I was in Taiwan and accidentally tried stinky tofu. It was pretty good actually! What happened was we were up really early in the morning before the stall's smell set in and I grabbed a snack. I honestly don't know if I could eat it with the smell as strong as it gets but maybe if I grabbed some and brought it to a different location it would still work for me

I ordered papaya salad ages back and was told basically the same thing (Vietnamese? Thai? Idk). It was unpleasant but I liked it? I guess I liked it? I ate it, tho it took a while. It was very fishy, which I dislike. But idk, it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever had. And now I kinda want it again.