Mapo tofu or Dezhou paji, which is the intangible cultural heritage?

Mapo tofu and Dezhou braised chicken are intangible cultural heritage, Dezhou braised chicken is a national intangible heritage project, and Mapo tofu is an intangible heritage project in Sichuan Province.

Mapo tofu is a famous traditional dish with Sichuan characteristics, which is famous for its spicy and delicious flavor. This dish has a unique production process, which combines the essence of Sichuan cuisine and shows the Sichuan people's love and innovative spirit for food. However, although Mapo tofu enjoys a high reputation in China's food industry, it does not belong to the category of national intangible food production skills.

In contrast, Dezhou paji is a traditional food in China with a long history and rich cultural connotations. According to historical records, Dezhou braised chicken originated in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 600 years. This dish has exquisite materials, exquisite cooking skills, delicious taste and rich nutrition.

More importantly, Dezhou paji, as a local specialty, bears the food culture and folk customs of Dezhou. Therefore, Dezhou paji was rated as a national intangible food production skill project, which deserved its name.

The Historical Origin of Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu was founded in the first year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1862), and there is a store named "Chen Restaurant" next to Wanfuqiao in Chengdu. The owner Chen Chunfu (Chen) died early, and the small restaurant was run by the proprietress. The female boss was slightly numb and called "Chen Mapo".

At that time, Wanfuqiao was a river crossing Fuhe River, where coolies often stopped to point. People who patronize restaurants are mainly oil porters. Chen has a unique skill in making tofu. Cooked tofu is delicious and deeply loved by people. The cooked tofu she created was called "Chen Mapo Tofu", and her food store was later named after "Chen Mapo Tofu Shop".

The history of Chen Mapo's creation of Mapo tofu is recorded in books such as Jincheng Ci and Hibiscus Flower. According to Chengdu Survey, Chen Mapo's tofu was listed as a famous food in Chengdu in the late Qing Dynasty.