Each person received a portion of tofu, a serving of green vegetables, and a portion of millet rice.
This was the vegetarian meal served at Shanglin Temple.
No one received special treatment.
It was very simple and plain, one could even say it was quite worthless.
But when these foods were tasted, they had a unique flavor, sweet and delicious. This could be the effect of the environment and the state of mind, which can influence one's perception of the taste of food.
This tofu seemed to be made with care, most likely by the Shanglin Temple itself, and was in no way inferior to that made by a family's own tofu workshop.
Delicate, smooth, with a particularly sweet flavor.
It was likely due to the water quality. Shanglin Temple must have a spring with sweet water, and tofu made from this spring water, containing trace elements, naturally had a special taste. This was likely the reason Shanglin Temple's vegetarian dishes were famous.
