Bean Curd Sticks

These “sticks” are fashioned from the sheets of bean curd milk that form on the curd as it is cooking. The pliable sheets are removed, rolled up, and allowed to dry. They are beige and do indeed look like sticks. Packaged in clear plastic, they are correctly labeled “bean curd sticks.” However, they are also sometimes mislabeled “bean thread” or “dried bean thread, ” and their ingredients are listed as soy beans and water. This label makes them easily confused with bean thread noodles, which is yet another example of why it is best to shop with a photocopy of the proper Chinese characters.