Iron egg facts for kids
Iron eggs (Chinese: 鐵蛋; pinyin: tiědàn) are a super chewy and flavorful snack from Taiwan. They are a special type of soy egg. Many people consider them a delicious treat. These unique eggs first came from the Tamsui District in New Taipei City.
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What Makes Iron Eggs Special?
Iron eggs are not made of iron! They get their name because they are very firm and dark. They are small eggs, usually from chickens, pigeons, or quails. They are cooked in a special way that makes them super chewy.
How are Iron Eggs Made?
Making iron eggs takes a lot of time and care. First, small eggs are cooked in a mix of spices. This mix often includes soy sauce. After cooking, the eggs are taken out and air-dried. This process is repeated many times. The eggs are stewed and dried over and over again. This makes them shrink and become very dark brown. It also gives them a chewy texture. They have a much stronger flavor than regular boiled eggs.
What Do Iron Eggs Taste Like?
People describe the taste of iron eggs as "sweet, spicy, and a little salty." They have a very strong egg flavor. Because they are so chewy and flavorful, they make a great snack. Many people enjoy them with drinks.
The Story Behind Iron Eggs
Iron eggs were first made by a woman named Chang-nian Huang (黃張哖). She owned a small restaurant in a seaside town. She used to serve snacks to the workers at the docks. One rainy day, she had fewer customers than usual. To keep her soy eggs warm, she had to keep cooking them. She would take them out of the soy sauce broth and then put them back in.
This repeated cooking and drying changed the eggs. They became smaller, darker, and very chewy. People loved this new kind of egg! It became very popular with the local people. Chang-nian Huang then started a new business just for her iron eggs. She sold them under the brand Apotiedan (Chinese: 阿婆鐵蛋; literally "Grandma's iron eggs").
Different Kinds of Iron Eggs
Iron eggs can be made from different types of eggs. They are usually made from chicken, pigeon, or quail eggs. Quail eggs are especially popular for making iron eggs. However, they are not usually made from duck eggs.
Iron Eggs Around the World
Even though iron eggs started in Taiwan, their popularity has grown. You can now find them in other parts of the world. They are enjoyed in places like Africa and the Middle East. This shows how a simple snack can become famous far from its home!
