Chinese Tea Eggs (w/ Soft and Hard Boiled Eggs, 茶叶蛋)

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• 12 each large eggs
  Ingredient note

  Source: 12 large eggs
• 4 tablespoons light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 4 tablespoons light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (or soy sauce)
• 2 each bay leaves
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
• 1 each star anise
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 star anise
• 1 each small cinnamon stick
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2 teaspoons sugar
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 each black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons black tea leaves)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons black tea leaves)
• 2 1/2 cups water
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 1/2 cups water

1. Mix all the marinade ingredients in a small pot. Cook over medium heat until bringing to a boil. Turn to medium-low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from your stove and let cool completely. Once done, remove and discard the tea bags.
2. To boil the eggs, heat a pot of water (enough to cover all the eggs) over high heat until boiling. Turn to low heat. Carefully place the eggs in the pot using a ladle, to prevent the eggs from cracking.
3. Boil 5 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 7 minutes for medium eggs, or 10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
4. While cooking the eggs, prepare an ice bath by combining ice and tap water in a big bowl.
5. Once the eggs are cooked, immediately transfer them to the ice bath to cool for 2 to 3 minutes. If you don’t have ice on hand, simply run cool tap water over the eggs for a couple minutes until they cool down.
6. Gently crack the eggs using the back of a spoon. You want to make sure the egg shells are cracked enough so the marinade will reach the interior, without cracking the eggs apart (especially if you made soft boiled eggs). If you’re in a hurry, you can also peel the eggs and marinate them peeled. The eggs will be ready in 12 hours this way.
7. Transfer the eggs to a quart-size ziplock bag, then carefully pour in the marinade along with the dry ingredients. Marinate overnight for peeled eggs, or 24 hours for cracked “marble” eggs.
8. Peel the eggs and enjoy them cold or at room temperature!
9. You can store the leftover eggs in the marinade for 4 to 5 days in the fridge. The marinade will help with preserving the eggs. Note, the eggs will become more flavorful and saltier over time.