FAQ

“Ho” is Cantonese for “Good” and “Do” is Mandarin for “Bean” so it’s a linguistic mash-up for “Good Bean!” The soul of our company lies in the quality of our plant-based products and it starts with the soybean. We use only the highest quality US-grown, 100% Organic soybeans, full of protein and good fats. Hodo handcrafts delicious, wholesome, organic plant-based foods for people who love to eat well. We thoughtfully source every ingredient and use artisanal methods.

Yes! Everything we make at Hodo is certified organic by the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers).

Yes! Everything we make at Hodo uses organic, non-GMO soybeans that are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).

Yes! All Hodo products and ingredients are completely gluten-free. In fact, no foods with gluten are ever processed in our our kitchen or production areas.

Hodo is 100% plant-based. All Hodo products are vegetarian and vegan. No meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, or honey.

Yes, all Hodo products are certified kosher by ORTHODOX UNION (OU).

We’re proud to be picky when it comes to our beans. We only use soybeans that are higher in protein than other beans -50% higher. Plus, we cook with the highest quality, high protein, organic soybeans which are unlike your regular soybean. We also use traditional cooking methods: using the whole bean (including the skin) for even more nutritional value. Check out the Hodo Difference.

Since we use calcium sulfate (a naturally occurring mineral) to make our plant-based foods, you can be sure it’s a good source of calcium!

Want to learn more? Check out the nutritional information on OUR PRODUCT PAGES.

Most Hodo products are a good source of fiber. Our Thai Curry Nuggets, Spicy Yuba Noodles, and Veggie Burgers are the fiber super-stars, with over 20% of the FDA-recommended Daily Value in each serving!

How do we supercharge Hodo products with fiber? We make our soymilk, the base of our products, with whole soybeans, and use traditional methods of extracting the nutrients in the process that retain as much of the nutrients and fiber as possible.

Want to learn more? Check out the nutritional information on OUR PRODUCT PAGES.

To make sure as many people as possible can enjoy Hodo, we don’t share beanery space or equipment with any other companies and none of our products contain peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, or dairy. Our only main allergen is soy. Have a question about another allergen? Please EMAIL US We’d love to talk to you about it.

Our cardboard packaging is recyclable (and made with post-consumer recycled paper)! Our products are also packaged in a small, sealed plastic bag, which as of now, is not recyclable. We’re always looking at ways to improve sustainability in our packaging and practices but, for now, it seems that plastic is the best way to keep our plant-based foods fresh and delicious from our kitchen to your fridge.

Yes, all plastic used in our packaging is BPA-free.

You can find the expiration date printed directly on the air-tight plastic bag. Typically most Hodo products have at least 30 days of shelf life at the time of purchase. Once you open it, we recommend enjoying our products within 3 days. Please do not consume products after the expiration date.

Yes! Any of our products can be frozen if unopened-just note that when you thaw them out, the texture will change a bit. This texture change is most noticeable in our Organic Extra Firm Tofu and our Cubes, which become more coarse in texture. You can use this for crumbling in scrambles, using as ground protein, or cubed in soups. Often in Asian hot-pots, tofu is purposely frozen to create this texture. The texture change is not very noticeable in our Nuggets, Burgers, or Yuba products.

Yes, all of our products are fully cooked so you can eat them cold right out of the package if you want. (That’s how we do it when we’re adding them to salad) We generally recommend heating up our tofu cubes since that brings out the flavor in the spices. But as always, experiment and see what you like best!

Since our products are fully cooked, you can just heat them up in whatever way you desire! Microwaving, baking, and sautéing them are all great options. You can cook them just until they are heated throughout, or longer if you like. You can play around with it and taste it as you go, to find which way you like it best.

Yuba is essentially the cream layer of soymilk. When simmered, the soy milk’s protein, fat, and calcium rise to the surface, forming a skin. The skin is then lifted from the milk by hand and hung to dry-like a sheet of fresh pasta.  “Yuba” is the Japanese name for this skin. It is also known as Bean Curd Sheet or Tofu Skin.  It’s chewy and has a pleasant, clean nutty taste. We pack and sell these fresh, not dehydrated.  This makes us the only company in the US to produce fresh, organic, handmade tofu skin in the country.

(Japanese: “yuba”, Mandarin: “dou pi”, Cantonese: “fu pei”, Vietnamese: “dau hu ky”)

Separating our yuba can be tricky sometimes! Luckily, we have some tips and tricks that might help:

• Leave it folded, cut it up, and leave them as thick chunks or cubes. Use it to replace chicken in your favorite recipes.

• Leave it folded, cut into strips on the short side. Shake it out a bit so it separates! Experiment by cutting the yuba into thick or thin strips. The difference in mouthfeel will blow your mind!

• Leave it folded, hold it on one end and shake it out a bit so it separates. Peel it like string cheese!

• Try freezing and then thawing our yuba, as the process of thawing introduces a thin layer of water between all the different folded surfaces and helps the sheets separate more readily.

• Run our Yuba Sheets under warm water while gently peeling it apart, layer by layer.

Want more information? Check out OUR YUBA STORY ON INSTAGRAM

Yes, absolutely! Our Extra Firm Tofu is the same delicious recipe you love with an updated name to describe its great texture.

Even when the cubes are cut in neat squares, the mixing with spices, by hand, and the subsequent packaging impact their shapes. This is natural for handmade products. We think the finer pieces taste even better than the cubes!

Anecdotally, one Hodo team member does feed her dog tofu (they like it!) but like any new foods, you should observe how your dog reacts to it. If you’re uncertain or if your dog has health issues, please consult your veterinarian.

We mitigate food waste in a couple of different ways! We send okara (leftover soybean pulp) to be used as animal feed and donate human grade products to local food banks, including the Alameda County Community Food Bank,UC Berkeley food pantry and through Replate.

Being a responsible local community member is important to us at Hodo, so we’d love to hear about your organization or event. We often donate product, coupons and/or swag, when we can. Please email your inquiry to hello@hodofoods.com

Wish you could buy Hodo at your favorite market? Help us bring delicious plant-based food closer to you.

Want to pre-order for pick up at the San Francisco Farmers Market on Saturdays? Please fill out this form by Tuesday 8pm Pacific Time before your weekend pickup.

World class chefs around the country love cooking with Hodo. See how you can bring Hodo into your kitchen.

So, of course, spice preferences and comfort can vary–but we’d put this as just the right amount of heat: you get a tingle, but it’s not going to light your mouth on fire.

We’re obviously biased, but we think Hodo tastes a whole lot better than the average tofu. We put an amazing amount of care in selecting higher quality organic beans and treating the product with the utmost respect through traditional artisan processes. Plus the flavor combinations we’ve created are seriously craveable. We’re on a mission not just to make your new favorite health food, but your new favorite food. Period. (And we take that mission, very seriously.)

Yes, Hodo tofu is a great low-carb, high-protein option for your keto diet. A 3oz serving (85g) of Hodo Extra Firm Tofu has around 14g of protein, 4.5g of fat, and 6g of carbs. Want to learn more? Here’s more info on why Tofu works for Keto.

Have more questions? Contact us