Chinese Tea Eggs(Cha Ye Dan)

Tea eggs(Cha Ye Dan) in one instant pot are often seen in front of a breakfast stall or in a convenience store.  Some people say that the biggest difference between Chinese convenience stores and Japanese convenience stores is one pot of tea eggs and the fragrance of tea eggs wafting in the stores. Many Chinese people like to eat boiled eggs cooked in an egg cooker or water directly for breakfast every morning. As it takes a longer time to serve flavourous tea eggs.

Apart from eating rice dumplings in my hometown during the Dragon Boat Festival, people also eat boiled tea eggs. As far as I am concerned, the feeling of parting is attached to the tea eggs, because I remember that when I was young, my mother would cook a pot of tea eggs as food on the road for members of my family who were traveling by train.

I like the taste of tea to be stronger, and I will add more tea. Surely it is ordinary tea. Of course, if you want to make tea eggs into aristocratic snacks and add more expensive tea, I have no objection.:)  The tea eggs need to be boiled for an hour and then left to stand overnight to get the beautiful marble pattern and top flavor.

About spices

Spices for tea eggs I put cinnamon, star anise, bay leaves, Some people add shiitake mushrooms, tsaoko, fennel, licorice, You can try to find the taste of your own delicious tea eggs.

What kind of tea

Generally choose red tea, for its strong fragrance, resistance to cooking.

Notes:

The eggs should be eaten as soon as possible and not left for too long.