Dry goods & condiments
Soybean Stick (Dried Bean Curd Stick)
A dried soy product sold in Hong Kong as pale-golden layered sticks, often labelled 腐竹 or 枝竹.
- 繁體中文
- 枝竹（腐竹）
- English
- Soybean Stick (Dried Bean Curd Stick)
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Soybean Stick / Kembang Tahu Kering (枝竹／腐竹)
- Tagalog
- Soybean Stick / Dried Bean Curd Stick (枝竹／腐竹)
What is it?
It is made from sheets formed on heated soy milk, shaped and dried. This record covers stick-form bean-curd skin, not flat soybean sheets or fresh tofu skin.
How to identify it
Look for light-yellow to golden, dry folded sticks with visible thin layers; after soaking they become flexible and unfold into layered strips.
- Lightweight and brittle when dry
- Folded or rolled bean-curd-skin layers
- Flexible layered strips after soaking
Common confusion
Stick-form 腐竹/枝竹 has folded layers; 腐皮 is generally sold as flatter sheets. Confirm both the package name and shape.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Common in braises, soups, hot pot and vegetarian dishes.
Preparation or handling
Rinse and soak according to the package until pliable; thickness changes soaking time. Cook thoroughly before serving.
Storage
Follow the package label; after opening, seal and keep cool and dry away from moisture.
Helper tip
Hong Kong labels may use 腐竹 and 枝竹 with overlapping scope. Do not assume flat 腐皮 is the same cut.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
買一包腐竹，係長條嗰種。The employer wants the long stick-form product, not flat bean-curd sheets or fresh tofu.
Useful market phrase
Is this 腐竹/枝竹 or flat 腐皮?