English High Tea Recipe

Tea egg is a typical Chinese savory snack commonly sold by street vendors or in night markets in most Chinese communities throughout the world.

Preparation

"Regular preparation"

Tea eggs are simply hard-boiled eggs that have been further stewed in a salted tea liquid. Other flavourings such as soy sauce and Chinese five-spice powder are often added as well. The eggs are actually boiled twice. After the first boiling, when the insides are hardened, the shell of each egg is lightly cracked. The eggs are then boiled for much longer duration in the black tea mixture for a second time, which allows the flavour of the tea to penetrate deep into the egg. The dark colour of the tea also stains through the cracks of the eggs creating a pattern on the peeled eggs that resembles the crazing of some ceramic glaze surfaces.

Quick method

Another method used to make tea eggs is to simply take off the eggshell and boil it in the tea mixture, instead of leaving the cracked eggshell on. This method is not as attractive but it is quicker. Most people would only use this method in an informal setting, when they don't have much time. Some people simply just leave the egg (with its shell on) floating in the tea mixture several hours before planned, so the tea can be absorbed and later warmed by boiling the water on high heat when wanted to eat.

Appearance and flavor

In the end, when the peel comes off, the egg should have regions of light and dark brown, with mid-brownish tone along the cracks of the shell. The yolk should have a thin greyish layer with the core being the usual yellow. As for flavor, it depends on which tea (the type and strength) and the variety of spices that are used. Five-spice powder adds a savory, slightly salty tone to the white, and the tea should bring out the yolk's flavor.

Regional

Hong Kong

The tea used in making tea eggs is usually low in quality but high in dark-brown tannins. Green tea is considered too bitter for the use of making tea eggs. In Hong Kong Pu-erh tea is most commonly used, but it can be substituted with black tea.

China

In Northeast China tea eggs are often privately made and sold. One might also see street vendors cooking and selling steaming-hot tea eggs. In Shanghai, tea eggs are sold by both convenience stores and private street vendors, where the tea eggs are often cooked together with dried tofu.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, tea eggs are a fixture of convenience stores. Through 7-Eleven chains alone, an average of 40 million tea eggs are sold per year.

References

• 陳富春. (2004). “小楊桃系列-003. 茶葉蛋”. 楊桃文化. ISBN 978-986-7853-58-5

Recipes for English Tea Sandwiches - Yummy Tea Sandwich Recipes!

English High Tea Recipes - There are some great traditional tea sandwich recipes on this site. Poppy seed, radishes, watercress and cucumber are just of few of the ingredients you ...

...

Afternoon Tea Recipes, High Tea Recipes, British American High Tea ...

Afternoon Tea Recipes - High Tea Recipes ... Check out the following wonderful articles on tea: English/American Afternoon Tea Menu with Recipes - A ...

...

Sandwich Recipes, Favorite Sandwich Recipes, Tea Sandwich Recipes ...

To learn about the history and legends of favorite sandwiches, check out the History of Sandwiches. Check out my English High Tea Menu and Spring Tea Menu. Lot of recipes ...

...

Traditional English Afternoon Tea

An English Afternoon Tea is a very special treat to prepare for your family and friends. ... The recipe for the fruit tarts you will find in the recipe file.

...

English High Tea- menu #2658 by French Tart Recipezaar

This menu, English High Tea #2658 by French Tarton Recipezaar.com may be just the combination of recipes you are looking for.

...

English Tea Party Recipes With Picture - Joyofbaking.com

English or Afternoon Tea Party Recipes ... In the past whether you took "afternoon tea" or "high tea" was a ...

...

High tea Definition | Definition of High tea at Dictionary.com

High tea recipes ... Huge selection of high quality English tea at bargain prices.

...

What Is Serve Dat an English Tea

...

High Tea vs. Afternoon Tea

All Results Recipes Only ... the same mistake when you are talking about these English tea ... High Tea Many people use the term "High Tea" to describe the ...

...

English High Tea Preserved Ginger Drizzle Cake - 210358 - Recipezaar

Try Recipe English High Tea Preserved Ginger Drizzle Cake - 210358 from Recipezaar.com. This recipe has a 5.00 star rating and has been reviewed 3 times

...