Where to buy emulsifier?

I have a new Chinese cookbook for cakes. One of the recipes for sponge cake calls for "emulsifier." In the picture, it looks like orange jelly. We looked in the Hong Kong groceries stores for the ingredient, but no luck.

My mom's friend, who has taken baking classes from Chinese pastry chefs, told us that we can proceed with the recipe without it. She explained that the emulsifier is what makes the cake moist and spongy. (Asian sponge cake is quite different in that it is very light, fluffy, spongy, and moist. ) The one time she was able to access the emulsifier was through the hotel chefs who would order it in bulk and share it w/his students. Does anyone know of where I can buy this product or a good substitute? Or can I really do w/o it?

My gut response is that it's lecithin, but I've never seen lecithin in other than powder form.

I've only used lecithin in liquid form...a dark yellow or orange oily liquid. I'm not sure where to get it, but what you're describing does sound like lecithin.

You can get liquid lecithin in natural food stores. Try Wholefoods.

Queijo wrote:You can get liquid lecithin in natural food stores. Try Wholefoods.

Or Sherwyn's health foods on Diversey just west of Clark. They've got it for sure.