Published Jun 25, 2024 Updated Aug 12, 2024
The Best Chinese Tea Eggs Recipe
My uncle gave me a block of aged Chinese pu-erh tea (普洱茶), and I immediately thought of Chinese tea eggs (茶叶蛋) as it’s perfect for making tea eggs. Chinese tea eggs are one of the popular egg recipes, alongside Chinese soy sauce eggs, Japanese shoyu egg and Korean soy sauce eggs. These tea eggs absorb the delicious and aromatic flavors of the Chinese tea mixture during steeping, resulting in a marbled pattern on the egg whites. In this Chinese tea eggs recipe, I used pu-erh tea leaves, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and five-spice powder for added depth of flavor and delightful aroma. This easy tea eggs recipe takes only 10 minutes of prep time, and with just three simple steps, you’ll be able to enjoy these delicious and aromatic eggs, perfect for snacking or serving at parties.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Unique flavor. The combination of tea, soy sauce, and spices infuses the eggs with a savory and aromatic taste that is both unique and delicious. Quick and easy. Prep time takes only 10 minutes, and this recipe is incredibly simple and does not involve any real cooking, unlike tomato eggs and egg foo young. Versatility. These eggs can be enjoyed in various ways – as a snack, side dish, or part of a main meal. They pair well with many dishes like noodles (such as chow mein and Chinese chicken noodle soup, steamed rice or fried rice, steamed buns and vegetables (such as garlic bok choy). Convenient for batch cooking. These eggs can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, making them convenient for quick meal additions and snacks without losing flavor.
Ingredients For Chinese Tea Eggs
Pu-erh tea leaves – infuses the eggs with a deep, earthy flavor and adds a dark color to create the marbled pattern on the egg whites. Cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and five-spice powder – add depth of flavor and aromatics.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Tea Eggs Ingredients Addition
Dark soy sauce. For a deeper colour. Dried tangerine peel. For a citrusy note. Shaoxing wine. Enhances the overall umami and complexity of the tea eggs.
How To Make Tea Eggs
Helpful Tips For Home Cooks
Boil the eggs for about 10 minutes to ensure they are fully cooked and firm before cracking the shells. Gently tap the boiled eggs with the back of a spoon or roll them on a hard surface to create cracks all over the shell. This allows the tea mixture to seep in and create the marbled pattern. Simmer the cracked eggs in the tea mixture for at least 1 hour on low heat to allow the flavors to infuse deeply. For a darker marbled pattern, simmer the eggs longer in the tea mixture or add a small amount of dark soy sauce.
What To Serve With This Recipe
These versatile and aromatic eggs go well with just about any comforting Chinese dishes. For a wholesome home cooked meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please share your photo in the Comments section and consider giving it a 5-star rating. I can’t wait to see your creations! Want more easy and delicious recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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