Tea-Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe

   3      pounds        Chicken wings -- (16 wings)
   3                    Cl Garlic
   1      tablespoon    Ginger root -- grated
   1      tablespoon    Honey
     3/4  cup           Soy sauce
     1/2  cup           Sherry
   1      cup           Brown sugar
   1      cup           Lapsang souchong tea -- (loose
                        Sesame seeds -- for garnish

1. Using a knife, separate the mini drumstick end of the wing and slice through
between the joints. Cut the wing tip off and discard. (any good butcher
will dot his for you.) Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.

 2. Using the metal blade of your processor, finely chop the garlic.
Add the grated ginger root, honey, soy sauce, and sherry, processing for
20 to 30 seconds to blend. Pour the marinade in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan,
and add the chicken wings. With a spoon, drizzle the marinade over all the
wings. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, rotating the chicken
wings at least once.

 3. To smoke the chicken, choose a heavy steel or cast iron roasting pan
or skillet with a tight fitting lid. Line the bottom of the pan with heavy
duty aluminum foil. Sprinkle the brown sugar and tea on top of the foil.
Place a cake rack in the skillet, over the sugar and tea mixture, and
arrange the chicken wings on the rack.
Cover the pan or skillet with a lid (or heavy aluminum foil if the lid
does not fit snugly). Turn on your kitchen exhaust fan. Turn the burner on
high, and leave chicken on high heat for 30 minutes (see Note). Do not
remove the lid to check. Turn off the heat after 30 minutes, and keep the
chicken covered another 20 minutes.
Smoked chicken will keep for several days if well-wrapped and
refrigerated.

 Serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer.

 Note: As with any recipe requiring a dish to be cooked at high heat, use
caution. Since this dish does produce smoke, it is imperative to use your
kitchen exhaust fan, and to have a pan or skillet with a tight fitting
lid.

NOTES: Smoking with tea is a traditional Chinese approach to preparing chicken.
To the Western eye, the darkened skin resembles Cajun-style cuisine. These
flavorful, bite-size chicken wings make a delicious appetizer when served
plain, or with your favorite mustard, peanut or teriyaki sauce.