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5.0 from 30 votes

Tea Leaf Eggs

Easy Chinese Tea Eggs - a batch of flavorful and aromatic hard-boiled eggs that are perfect for snacking or serving at parties. With just 10 minutes of prep time, you can effortlessly whip up these delicious, marbled eggs.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 70 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 12 eggs
  • 4 cups water
  • 6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Chinese pu-erh tea leaf
  • 1 tick cinnamon
  • 1 star anise
  • 3 cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add 4 cups of water to a medium pot and gently place the eggs in it, ensuring they are fully submerged. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and boil for approximately 10 minutes to ensure the eggs are fully cooked.
  2. Transfer the hard-boiled eggs from the boiling water and rinse them under cold water. Using the back of a teaspoon, gently tap the eggshells to crack them. Return the eggs to the water and add the remaining ingredients.
  3. Bring the tea mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour (the longer the simmering, the better the taste). Add more water if needed. Serve immediately, or leave the tea eggs in the mixture overnight to further enhance their color and flavor.

Notes

  • 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.

Nutrition Information

Serving 12people Calories 70kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 4g (6%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 163mg (54%) Sodium 479mg (20%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 70

% Daily Value*

Serving 12people
Calories 70kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 163mg 54%
Sodium 479mg 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.