Tofu is the milk-free alternative for cheese. Tofu is considered vegan as it is produced from soybeans, and thus tofu is also called bean curd. Oriental cuisines, especially the East Asian and Southeast Asian ones are known for their extensive use of tofu and tofu-related products. Sweet and savoury dishes of Asian origin commonly make use of flavoured, seasoned or marinated tofu as one of their essential ingredients. Pressed from soy bean curd, tofu is mostly available in firm, soft, extra firm and silken variants.