During a stroll through the 1-Borneo shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, we chanced upon a Chinese tea shop selling herbal tea eggs at the front entrance. The fragrant scent of the herbal concontion wafted through the mall which tempted us to impulsively purchase one of these delicacies on the spot.

The broth consists of a blend of tea, traditional Chinese herbs, star anise, soy sauce, cinnamon and sugar. The eggs are cooked in their cracked shells so that the flavours seep through. The smell of the broth is actually quite overpowering, but the eggs themselves taste sweet and you can taste more of the star anise and cinnamon rather than the herb blend, which is what gives out the strong aroma.

At RM2 per egg, herbal tea eggs are a cheap and healthy snack alternative – you get your protein intake and at the same time you benefit from minerals the tea and herbs provide while keeping you fuller for longer! Move over, Tokyo Bananas!