Chinese Tea Leaf Eggs

Description

One of my favorite dishes when I head back home; it combines hard-boiled eggs with the subtle flavor of anise and the deep brown hues of black tea and soy. The cracked patterns from the broken shells make these quite attractive! I eat these sliced in quarters and chilled as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. Recipe courtesy of Mom.

Ingredients

  • 8 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon black soy sauce
  • ΒΌ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons black tea leaves
  • 2 pods star anise
  • 1 (2 inch) piece cinnamon stick
  • 1 tablespoon tangerine zest

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan
  2. combine eggs and 1 teaspoon salt; cover with cold water. Bring to a boil
  3. reduce heat
  4. and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat
  5. drain
  6. and cool. When cool
  7. tap eggs with the back of a spoon to crack shells (do not remove shells).
  8. In a large saucepan
  9. combine 3 cups water
  10. soy sauce
  11. black soy sauce
  12. salt
  13. tea leaves
  14. star anise
  15. cinnamon stick
  16. and tangerine zest. Bring to a boil
  17. then reduce heat
  18. cover
  19. and simmer for 3 hours. Remove from heat
  20. add eggs
  21. and let steep for at least 8 hours.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 3 hrs

Total Time: 11 hrs 20 mins

Servings: 8

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