Ingredients :

• 3 lb (1.5 kg) chicken
• 3 tbsp (45 ml) brown peppercorns
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
• 8 cups (2 L) water
• 4 green onions
• 3 slices fresh ginger
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup (250 ml) soy sauce
• ½ cup (125 ml) sugar
• ½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (125 ml) dry tea leaves
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil

Procedure :

1. Clean and wipe dry chicken. Fry peppercorns and salt for 1 minute in a wok(pan). Rub into chicken and allow to stand for 2 hours.
2. Bring water to a boil in a large pan. Add green onions, ginger, star anise, cinnamon and soy sauce and simmer 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook for 10 minutes over low heat, turning once. Remove chicken and allow to cool.
3. Put sugar, flour and tea leaves in a wok, cover with a rack. Sit chicken on its side on rack. Cover tightly and smoke for 45 minutes - 1 hours, over a low heat, turning chicken halfway through.
4. Remove chicken from wok and brush with sesame oil; cool.

Makes 6 servings.