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Steeped in a flavorful marinade of soy sauce, star anise, spices, and tea, tea eggs (cha ye dan, 茶叶蛋) resemble beautifully carved marble orbs with delicate veins of color crisscrossing the surface. A platter of eggs looks more like art than something to eat.

A newborn baby is truly a bundle of joy! In China, proud parents go the extra mile by hosting a jubilant red egg and ginger party when the baby is a month old.

Like fruitcake, there’s no middle ground when it comes to voicing one’s opinion about the taste of eggnog. Some folks relish the creamy concoction with great anticipation during the holidays, while others would rather pour it into the nearest poinsettia plant.