<P> Benjamin Franklin was the first American to mention tofu , in a 1770 letter to John Bartram. Franklin , who encountered it during a trip to London , included a few soybeans and referred to it as `` cheese '' from China . In 1770 Franklin also corresponded with James Flint on the subject of how the Chinese converted callivances ( soybeans ) into tofu . This is believed to be the first use of the word `` tofu '' in the English language . The first tofu company in the United States was established in 1878 . In 1908 Li Yuying , a Chinese anarchist and a vegetarian with a French degree in agriculture and biology , opened a soy factory , the Usine de la Caséo - Sojaïne . This was the world 's first soy dairy and the first factory in France to manufacture and sell beancurd . However , tofu was not well known to most Westerners before the middle of the 20th century . With increased cultural contact between the West and East Asia and growing interest in vegetarianism , knowledge of tofu has become widespread . Numerous types of pre-flavored tofu can be found in supermarket chains throughout the West . It is also used by many vegans and vegetarians as a source of protein . </P>
<P> Benjamin Franklin was the first American to mention tofu , in a 1770 letter to John Bartram. Franklin , who encountered it during a trip to London , included a few soybeans and referred to it as `` cheese '' from China . In 1770 Franklin also corresponded with James Flint on the subject of how the Chinese converted callivances ( soybeans ) into tofu . This is believed to be the first use of the word `` tofu '' in the English language . The first tofu company in the United States was established in 1878 . In 1908 Li Yuying , a Chinese anarchist and a vegetarian with a French degree in agriculture and biology , opened a soy factory , the Usine de la Caséo - Sojaïne . This was the world 's first soy dairy and the first factory in France to manufacture and sell beancurd . However , tofu was not well known to most Westerners before the middle of the 20th century . With increased cultural contact between the West and East Asia and growing interest in vegetarianism , knowledge of tofu has become widespread . Numerous types of pre-flavored tofu can be found in supermarket chains throughout the West . It is also used by many vegans and vegetarians as a source of protein . </P>
when did tofu become popular in the us
when did tofu become popular in the us
the middle of the 20th century
the middle of the 20th century