Ingredients:
1 whole chicken cut into two halves
2-inch ginger (skin peeled and lightly pounded)
4 to 6 cloves garlic (lightly pounded)
2 stalks scallions (cut into 2-inch lengths)
2 star anise
5 to 6 cardamon
2-3 bay leaves
1 leaf of licorice root
1 cinnamon stick (about 2-inch length)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup red dates dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons of Chinese rose wine
A few dashes of white pepper powder
15g rock sugar
2 cups water
Instructions:
Put all the ingredients, except the chicken, into a sauce pot and bring it to boil on high heat for 15 minutes.
Add the chicken halves into the pot and boil on high heat for about 10 minutes. Turn the chicken.
Lower the heat to simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes, turning the chicken again mid-way. Be careful not to overcook the chicken.
Turn off fire and let the chicken steeped in the soy sauce mixture for a few hours to soak in the flavor.
Dish out the chicken halves, chop into pieces and serve. Top with cilantro.