- English (United States)
- Japanese
Takamaru food co., ltd. has been producing fresh, and deep fried tofu since it was established in 1949. Their top brand is called ‘Mattari’ (Mattari means rich in terms of taste and texture) and it has a great reputation. We visited their factory to ask about their secrets.
Ingredients are the key for good Tofu
Mr. Takaochi, the CEO, is passionate about producing tasty tofu and making his customers happy through his products, and he has been studying of tofu and the ingredients for many years. Soybeans and water are the key for tofu making. His tofu is made from specialty grown soybeans, which are grown using 50% less of pesticide than normal. The water is a blend of purified ground water and alkali ion water, and this water is the best for tofu. Before we talked to them, we tasted both their thin and thick deep-fried tofu. Thin deep-fried tofu, which is called ‘Usuage,’ is crispy outside and soft inside. The thick one, which is called ‘Atsuage,’ has a rich flavor of tofu. We were very impressed the taste.
Original machines for tofu making
Mr. Takaochi always tries to produce better tofu by using new machines or by refurbishing their existing machines as well. When he gets a new machine, he works to improve upon it to produce the best Tofu possible.
He used to work for a printing company and was absorbed in research and development. With that experience, he has been working on improving many machines since he took over the business from his family. He designed a original pot for tofu producing and the pot is still in use today.
Ultimate tofu and mild soy milk
He adjusted his machines many times to produce highly concentrated soy milk and also added a new machine which can maximize the taste of soybeans. Then he succeeded to produce the ultimate tofu which is called ‘Mattari Tofu.’ As I mentioned, ‘Mattari’ means rich and mellow in Japanese. Please eat it raw and enjoy the real taste of soybeans. The soy milk which is called ‘Mattari soy milk’ has a rich flavor and is very popular. Also you can make tofu by yourself using this special soy milk.
The reason he produced the Mattari tofu is that he wanted to make tofu without bitterness, which is caused by the skin of the soybeans. It used to be difficult to take off the skin, but it can now be done easily with a machine, so he started making the Mattari Tofu. Mattari soy milk is really smooth and has a smooth taste, so it is completely different from ordinary soy milk. Please try it even if you do not like ordinary soy milk.
For better products
He passionately told us that he would continue striving to produce better and better products so that his customers could have even more delicious tofu and soy milk.
