Marbled Tea Eggs

[Marie N]

This is an old traditional recipe from China. Maybe some of you might have tried it at a restuarant. It's very easy to prepare. A different way to cook with tea leaves! Enjoy.

Marbled Tea Eggs
12 eggs (any size)
2 tbsps black tea leaves
2-4 star anise
2 tbsps dark soya sauce
1 tbsp salt
1/4 tbsp sugar
2.2ins/5cm sticks cinnamon
1) Put the eggs in a saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer gently for 15 mins. Drain and allow to cool.
2) Gently crack the shells of the eggs all round but DO NOT SHELL.
3) Place the eggs and all the remaining ingredients in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 1/2 - 3 hrs.
4) Drain and allow to cool at room temperature.
5) Shell before serving or guests can shell their own eggs.

Note: Sometime I cook the eggs over night and leave them in the 'tea sauce'overnight.

[Marie N]

I've already made the changes to the ingredients. Enjoy

[Lynn]

I think there are as many different recipes for these eggs as there are street stalls and restaurants that serve them. They are all over China, and always pretty good. They are placed in a big vat of steaming tea and spices and left there until sold. A handy, nutritious snack found on most street corners.

[crazytatter]

they are really good from personal experience, thanks for the recipe.

[Judy]

I think there are as many different recipes for these eggs as there are street stalls and restaurants that serve them. They are all over China, and always pretty good. They are placed in a big vat of steaming tea and spices and left there until sold. A handy, nutritious snack found on most street corners.

This is good to know; being only a little timid of street food, this sounds eminently safe in that tub. Some of my experiences have come back to bite me. I was trained at age 14 by our general science teacher. He offered us tins of grubs, fried grasshoppers and chocolate ants. I skipped the grubs.

[Sunny_0ne]

I skipped the grubs.

No guts, no glory. :D

[Lynn]

I understand from friends in Papua New Guinea that grubs are a main protein source for many people. But I think they must also be an acquired taste, like limburger cheese, or jack fruit, or fermented bean curd, or sweet potato pie - seems like all foods are acquired tastes. And like you, there are some that I'd prefer not to acquire, thank you.