A little-known company supplies Chipotle with a special vegan ingredient even meat-eaters love — take a look inside

An ardent meat-lover never forgets her first taste of Chipotle's Sofritas.

In 2014, the fast-casual chain added its first new menu item: organic shredded tofu that's braised and marinated with chipotle chiles, roasted poblanos, and a sizzling spice blend.

When Chipotle offered a promotion to try its looks-like-meat, smells-like-meat vegan substitute, in exchange for a free burrito coupon, Sofritas sold out at a bunch of locations nationwide.

Today, even meat-eaters (like me) often opt for Sofritas as a healthier alternative to meat that doesn't compromise taste. People say it's spicy, flavorful, and almost mistakable as ground beef.

I recently toured the factory where Hodo, an organic tofu company based in Oakland, California, makes the tofu for Chipotle's Sofritas. Take a look to see how it's made.

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In a factory in Oakland, California, a team of over 100 Hodo employees work on making tofu products that Americans — historically, a tofu-adverse bunch — will enjoy eating.

Many Americans know tofu as a chalky white brick that crumbles when you bite into it. Minh Tsai, founder and CEO of Hodo, set out to make tofu that's creamy and flavorful on its own.

By selling products wholesale to chains like Chipotle and Sweetgreen and partnering with fine-dining chefs across the country, Hodo lets consumers taste the possibilities.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Contributer : Tech Insider http://ift.tt/2Ctj4hi

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