Chinese Tea Eggs are a delicious savory snack of boiled eggs flavored with a soy and tea marinade infused with warm spices.
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What is Chinese tea egg?
Chinese Tea Eggs are a traditional savory snack of eggs infused with the flavor and aroma of black tea, soy sauce, and warm spices.
The eggs are boiled and the shells are cracked. Then, the eggs are infused in the tea marinade, ultimately leaving a distinctive marbled pattern.
Why you'll love this recipe
Flavorful & aromatic: the boiled eggs to soak up the flavored tea and savory spice-infused marinade.
Not overcooked: traditional recipes simmer the eggs in the marinade, which can lead to overcooked, rubbery eggs.
Make ahead of time: the longer the eggs steep, the better they taste!
Delicious snack: healthy and satisfying on its own, or pair with noodles or steamed rice for a more substantial meal.
Ingredients you'll need
- large eggs
Marinade:
- water
- black tea bags: or tea leaves
- soy sauce: regular or light soy sauce
- dark soy sauce: adds more color to the eggs
- granulated sugar: balances the flavor
- fennel seed: little green oval seeds that add a licorice-like flavor
- bay leaf
- cinnamon stick
- star anise: adds a warm, aromatic flavor
Where to find?
You can find these ingredients at Asian supermarkets or grocery stores.
How to make Chinese marble tea eggs
Boil eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 5–6 minutes (soft-boiled) or longer for firmer yolks.
Cool eggs in ice water, gently crack shells for marbling, and set aside.
Prepare a marinade by simmering water, tea bags, soy sauce, sugar, fennel seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon, and star anise.
Cool the marinade, submerge eggs in it, and refrigerate overnight.
Peel eggs, and serve warm or cold.
How to serve
Serve the Chinese marble tea eggs as a snack on its own, or pair with steamed rice, rice noodles or egg noodles.
You can enjoy the tea eggs cold or warm.
How to store
Keep the marbled soy sauce tea eggs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Expert tips
For a more clear marble design: peel the eggs without removing the fine membrane between the shells and eggs.
If you prefer a hard-boiled egg: add a few more minutes to the egg cooking time.
Play around with the spices: add in ginger, garlic, Chinese five-spice powder, chilies, or Sichuan peppercorn for even more flavor.
For a stronger tea flavor: let the eggs marinate in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
Use different teas: try oolong tieguanyin, or pu-erh for a different tea flavor.
Save the marinade: you can re-boil the marinade, cool it and and keep it in a clean, sterile jar in the fridge or freezer until your next batch.
Other delicious egg recipes you may like
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Chinese Tea Eggs
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Main:
- 4 large eggs
Marinade:
- 1 ½ C water
- 2 black tea bags or 2 tablespoon black tea leaves
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 star anise
Instructions
Boil the eggs:
- Place eggs into a pot of cold water and bring up to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce to a gentle simmer and let the eggs cook for about 5-6 minutes, for soft-boiled.
- Add an additional 2-3 minutes if you prefer a medium-set, or another 5 minutes for hard-boiled egg.
- Remove the eggs from heat and immediately transfer to a basin of ice cold water or run under cold water to halt the cooking process.
- Use the back of a metal spoon to gently tap the entire surface of the egg, cracking the shells. (This creates the marbling pattern for the marinade to seep in). Set aside.
Prepare the marinade:
- In a separate sauce pan, combine 1 ½ C water, black tea bags, soy sauce, sugar, fennel seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for 1-2 minutes over medium heat.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Marinate the eggs:
- Transfer the marinade into a vessel that is large enough to hold the eggs.
- Add the cracked soft-boiled eggs to the liquid, ensuring the eggs are entirely submerged and place into the fridge to marinade overnight.
Serve:
- Peel the eggs and serve warm or cold as a snack.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Heidi
This is such a clever way to add marvelous flavor to eggs. I especially love the fun, complex flavors you've infused into the marinade... YUM!!
Michelle
Thanks Heidi, it really does give the eggs such a nice hum of flavor! 😀
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
I'm not sure if these Chinese Tea Eggs are my type of food to enjoy, but I must admit they look beautiful!
Michelle
Thanks Ben, they're definitely a little different, but super tasty! 🙂