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.