The article explores the origins of tofu, tracing its accidental discovery to Liu An, King of Huainan, during the Western Han dynasty. It has since become a cherished Chinese culinary symbol.

In China, few foods are as modest yet culturally resonant as tofu. Its origins are most often traced to Liu An, the King of Huainan during the Western Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 9), a nobleman fascinated by the search for immortality. According to legend, Liu gathered alchemists on a mountain in Anhui province, central China, where they experimented with spring water, soybeans and gypsum in an attempt to create an elixir of life. What they produced instead was tofu. The story survived because...