FIVE-SPICE
CHILE TEA RUB
I’ve
always been fascinated by the use of tea in cooking. Among tea dishes,
teasmoked duck is
probably the most ubiquitous, but there’s also green tea–flavored
ice cream and pound cake. As
part of a seasoning rub, tea adds aromatic flavor to a
range of dishes. To compose this example, I started with lapsang
souchong tea, revered
for its smoky, tobacco-like depths, then added spices, including three
kinds of pepper, to
complement it. The result is a standout rub you’ll use often.
Makes about
6 cups
Lasts 3 weeks, refrigerated
-
3 cups
lapsang souchong tea leaves
-
1/2 cup
sea salt or kosher salt
-
1/2 cup
red pepper flakes
-
1/2 cup
chipotle chile powder
-
1/2 cup
dehydrated garlic or regular garlic powder (not garlic salt)
-
1/4 cup
cayenne pepper
-
1/4 cup
dried chives or onions
-
1/4 cup
five-spice powder
Combine all
the ingredients in a medium bowl. Use or store.