Description
Chinese Tea Eggs are a classic savory snack featuring hard-boiled eggs cracked and steeped in a fragrant mixture of soy sauce, Chinese five-spice, and tea. This traditional Chinese recipe infuses eggs with rich, aromatic flavors and creates a beautiful marbled pattern on the shell, making a delicious and visually appealing treat perfect for snacking or serving with rice and other dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Eggs
- 12 large eggs
Tea and Spice Mixture
- 6 cups water
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons Bird Pick Breakfast Tea
Instructions
- Initial Boil: Fill a large pot with the 12 eggs and cover with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil, then immediately turn off the heat.
- Hot Water Bath: Cover the pot and let the eggs sit in the hot water for about 10 minutes to gently cook and set the eggs.
- Prepare Tea Mixture: In a separate pot, combine 6 cups water, 6 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons Bird Pick Breakfast Tea. Bring this mixture to a boil to release the flavors.
- Cool Eggs: Once the eggs finish their hot water bath, drain the pot and cool the eggs under cold running water.
- Crack the Shells: Tap each egg gently with the back of a spoon to crack the shell without peeling it. These cracks will allow the tea mixture to seep in creating the distinctive marbled pattern.
- Simmer in Tea Mixture: Place the cracked eggs into the simmering tea and soy sauce mixture. Simmer on low heat for at least 2 hours on the stove. Alternatively, you can place them in a crockpot and simmer on low for a similar duration.
- Storage: After simmering, remove the eggs and store them in the refrigerator where they will keep for up to one week. Enjoy them cold or reheated.
Notes
- Cracking the shells but leaving them on is key to the classic marbled look and enhances flavor absorption.
- You can experiment with different types of black tea if Bird Pick Breakfast Tea is unavailable.
- The simmering time can be extended beyond 2 hours for a stronger flavor.
- Tea eggs are great served as a snack, with congee, or sliced in salads and noodle dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Keywords: Chinese tea eggs, tea eggs recipe, five-spice eggs, soy sauce eggs, marbled eggs, savory Chinese snack
