T or P Makes All the Difference in Tea Eggs
I read a news article recently that reminded me that I should make tea eggs | 茶鸡蛋. The article wasn't about tea eggs though. It was about pee eggs--a horrific, urine-soaked delicacy apparently enjoyed by the good people of Zhejiang province, China. When NBC published this story, I think they perpetuated the stereotype that Asian people will eat anything. I want to clarify that most Chinese people have never heard of pee eggs. I asked my parents about them. I also asked my family members living in Beijing. Everyone was as appalled as you and me. Eating pee eggs is not normal. I just want to make that clear. Anyway, I digress. This post is about tea eggs, not pee eggs. Thank god.
Tea eggs are a delicious breakfast treat in China. They're as easy to take on-the-go as pop-tarts. This has proven more difficult to convince White Boyfriend of as I would've hoped. In any case, this recipe makes half a dozen eggs--enough for someone else to take one to work every day for a week and still have a snack on the weekend.
There are many ways to boil eggs (I wasn't going to go over this step, but then I put myself in White Boyfriend's shoes). I start by submersing them in water, bringing to a boil, and then immediately turning off the heat. Cover and let eggs continue to cook in hot water for 7-8 minutes. Remove eggs and run them under cold water. Leave the hot water in the saucepan as you will use this again later.
The next step is pretty fun. Grab an egg in one hand, a spoon in the other, and start tapping the shit out of the shell on all sides. The eggs should be completely cracked but the shell still relatively intact.
Now submerge the eggs back in the same saucepan of water. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil again. The eggs will bob around like eager bridesmaids trying to catch the bouquet at a wedding. Turn down the heat and simmer for about an hour. Remove from heat and steep overnight.
When you peel an egg the next day, the white should be beautifully marbled and the shell a work of art. Make White Boyfriend try one. If he resists, huff that at least you're not making him try pee eggs.
For the straight-up tea eggs recipe, click here.