"Black Tea" Smoked Chicken

SERVES 4

4 chicken thighs or 6 drumsticks

MARINADE

2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry
2 teaspoons cornstarch

SMOKING MIXTURE

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1/4 cup Tea Tonic "Black Tea" leaves
4 slices ginger, lightly crushed
2 whole star anise
2 teaspoons liquid smoke or 1/4 teaspoon hickory chips

Method

1. If using chicken thighs, place chicken, skin side down, on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut slits 1/2 inch deep along both sides of the bone. Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add chicken and stir to coat. Let it stand for 10 minutes.

2. Place a wide frying pan over medium heat until hot. Add oil, swirling to coat sides. Add chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

3. Prepare a wok for steaming. Cover and steam chicken over high heat for 30 minutes.

4. Combine smoking mixture and spread evenly in a foil-lined wok. Set a round cake rack over smoking mixture. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack and place wok over high heat. When a mixture begins to smoke, cover wok with a foil-lined lid; reduce heat to medium-low and smoke until chicken takes a rich deep color, 12 to 15. Turn off heat and allow to sit with lid on for 5 minutes. Serve chicken hot at room temperature.