Young entrepreneurs bring Tofu in the town
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 20 2024: With Asian cuisine becoming popular in Manipur, two young entrepreneurs from the State now venture into the food business making varieties of items from soyabean including Tofu.

Tofu which originated from China is condensed soy milk press into blocks of different firmness.

Trying their hands at the entirely new food business in Manipur, Khaidem Nitish (25), s/o Khaidem Dhiren of Langthabal Lep Awang Leikai and Yumnam Pritam (25), s/o of William of Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai started Luscious Soy Production Unit which is based at Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai.

Young entrepreneurs bring Tofu in the town

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Nitish and Pritam said that they started Luscious Soy Production Unit in December 2022 by selling four soyabean pickle items viz soyabean and garlic pickle (Rs 130 per jar), soyabean and u-morok pickle (Rs 160 per kg), soyabean and chicken pickle (Rs 150 per jar) and soyabean and pork pickle (Rs 160 per jar) .

Saying that they started making Tofu after attending a 15 day training course organised by Central Agricultural University (CAU), Iroishemba, they added that they were given machines to prepare Tofu after attending the training by food scientist L Sofia Devi.

The two entrepreneurs said that first soybeans have to be soaked in water and kept overnight and the soybeans are then ground to turn them into milk form.

The soya milk then has to be boiled by mixing with magnesium chloride to separate the curd from the whey.

The curd then again has to be pressed with a heavy object and kept for some time to turn the curd into a solid pulp which is the final form of Tofu.

The process of making Tofu takes about three hours, they said.

Saying that they sell 250 gram of Tofu at Rs 80, half kg at Rs 150 and one kilogram at Rs 280, the entrepreneurs said that they usually sell 10 to 20 kg of Tofu everyday.

Nitish and Pritam also said that they also provide home delivery service apart from selling the Tofu at its unit at Haobam Marak.

Saying that the demand of Tofu is higher among people who do weight exercise as the food item is rich in protein, they added that even diabetic patients, lactose intolerant people and people with high cholesterol also can eat Tofu as per many experts.

People with thyroid disorder however should not eat Tofu as per the experts, they added.