Did you know that there is a tofu that is becoming a bit of a hot topic in Naganuma Town, Yubari County? It is sold at Naganuma Onsen and is called "Gensen Tofu." It is said to be surprisingly sweet and rich with a high sugar content. I visited Naganuma Town in search of this tofu. Naganuma Town is a major producer of soybeans, having been crowned number one in Japan in terms of yield. Furthermore, Naganuma Onsen boasts one of the highest spring water yields in Hokkaido, a hot spring powerhouse. The combination of soybeans and hot spring water gave birth to Gensen Tofu.

Apparently, they add water from the Naganuma Onsen hot spring to the soy milk as a secret ingredient. The strong salt content of the spring brings out the sweetness of the soybeans, creating a rich and unique flavor. When purchasing, it's best to stick to the basic "Momen" and "Ultrakin" varieties. The photo above shows Momen. Its firm texture and strong soybean flavor are apparent just from its appearance. On the other hand, Chokinu, which means "silk beyond silk," has an enchantingly smooth texture. For tofu lovers, we recommend "Yose Tofu" (large size) and "Taberu Soy Milk." Yosedoufu has a concentrated soybean sweetness and a rich soybean flavor that is irresistible. Once you experience this rich flavor, you may not be satisfied with other tofu! As for the edible soy milk, you will be surprised by its new melting texture. It is truly a dish worthy of being called edible soy milk. Some people even enjoy it as a dessert by pouring brown sugar syrup or honey over it. Let us introduce a slightly different product called "The Shio-en-" (The En), which is made by removing even more water from spring tofu using the osmotic effect of salt. This is a new texture that is the complete opposite of soy milk you can eat. It crumbles in your mouth and can be eaten as a snack or used as a salad topping. There are two types: "Cotton" and "Silk." Also, let's not forget that it is "hand-fried." The batter is made by hand and it is carefully fried twice, so there's no way it won't be delicious! We recommend toasting these plump, round fried tofu until crispy and eating them with ginger and soy sauce... but it's also hard to pass up the way to add them to stews and enjoy their juicy texture! When eating the tofu and fried foods we have introduced so far, we recommend that you try our special "dashi soy sauce." The slightly sweet soy sauce matches surprisingly well with the spring tofu. We're not kidding, but it will really raise the level of flavor by one or even two, so give it a try. You can purchase these products at Naganuma Onsen's gift shop or at the roadside station "Maoi no Oka Park." Even if you don't like tofu that much, you'll be surprised at how delicious it is and put a smile on your face when you try the spring tofu! All of them are highly recommended, so take your time to choose. <Interview cooperation> Naganuma Tofu Factory Address: 4-6-1 Higashi, Naganuma-cho, Yubari-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 0123-76-9102 Official website: http://www.nitto-sougyou.co.jp/naganuma/gensen-tofu/