Cháyèdàn- Chinese Tea Eggs

Total Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 2 black tea bags
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 pieces star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns (optional)
• dried mandarin orange peel, in strips (optional)

Recipe

• 1 put eggs in a medium-sized pot with enough water to cover the eggs.
• 2 bring water to boil, then lower heat to simmer for 3 minutes.
• 3 remove eggs from heat and allow them to cool a bit before handling(running them under cold water does the trick quickly.).
• 4 take the back of a knife and crack eggs evenly all around.
• 5 return eggs to the pot and add the rest of the ingredients.
• 6 bring liquid to boil again, then simmer for 1 to 3 hours, longer for a more intense flavor and color, adding water if level gets too low.
• 7 remove from heat, and serve as a snack or addition to rice or noodles.