Cha Xun Ji (tea-smoked Chicken)

Cha Xun Ji, or Tea-Smoked Chicken, is a traditional dish from Zhejiang Cuisine that features tender and flavorful chicken infused with the aroma of tea leaves and spices.

Cha Xun Ji (tea-smoked Chicken)

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp five-spice powder
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1/2 cup black tea leaves
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 4 star anise
  • 4 dried red chilies

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, salt, and five-spice powder. Marinate the chicken thighs in this mixture for 30 minutes.
  2. In a wok, add the uncooked rice, black tea leaves, brown sugar, star anise, and dried red chilies. Place a rack above the mixture and put the marinated chicken thighs on the rack.
  3. Cover the wok with a tight-fitting lid and heat over high heat until you see smoke escaping from the edges. Reduce the heat to low and smoke the chicken for 30 minutes.
  4. Remove the chicken from the wok and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cooking & Preparation

Preparation time:
20 minutes
Cooking time:
1 hour
Total time:
1 hour
Cooking method
Stovetop

Nutritional facts per 1 serving

Calories
250 per serving
Protein
30g
Fat
12g
Carbohydrates
5g

Supplies

Wok Tight-fitting lid

Tools

Rack

Serving suggestions

Serve the tea-smoked chicken with steamed rice and a side of stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.

Tips & tricks

Make sure to use a well-ventilated area when smoking the chicken to avoid setting off smoke alarms.

Cost

$12