Cantonese Dim Sum

Cantonese Dim Sum Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. It is usually served in the mornings until noon time at Chinese restaurants and at specialty dim sum eateries where typical dishes are available throughout the day. Dishes come in small portions and may include meat, seafood, and vegetables, as well as desserts and fruit. The items are usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. Yum cha (literally "tea drinking") is the term used to describe the dining session, especially in contemporary Cantonese. Chinese families in particular typically like to gather at Chinese restaurants for dim sum on occasions such as Mothers Day or Chinese New Years.

Name

The Cantonese phrase dim sum means literally "touch the heart" or "order to your heart's content". It may be derived from yat dim sum yi, meaning "a little token". ("A Touch of Heart" is perhaps the more poetic translation.) Though the English word "dim sum" refers to the Cantonese variety, the idea of a wide variety of small dishes for lunch also holds for other regions of China.

History

Travellers on the ancient Silk Road needed a place to take a nap, so teahouses were established along the roadside. Rural farmers, exhausted after working hard in the fields, would also go to teahouses for a relaxing afternoon of tea. At first, it was considered inappropriate to combine tea with food, because people believed it would lead to excessive weight gain. People later discovered that tea can aid in digestion, so teahouse owners began adding various snacks and the tradition of dim sum evolved.

In Hong Kong, and most cities and towns in Guangdong province, many Chinese restaurants start serving as early as five in the morning. It is a tradition for the elderly to gather to eat dim sum after morning exercises, often enjoying the morning newspapers. For many southerners in China, yum cha is treated as a weekend family day. Consistent with this tradition, dim sum restaurants typically only serve dim sum until the afternoon (right around the time of a traditional Western 3 o'clock coffee break); other kinds of Cantonese cuisine are served in the evening. Nowadays, various dim sum items are sold as takeaway for students and office workers on the go.

While dim sum remains a staple of Chinese culinary culture, especially in Hong Kong, health officials have recently criticized the high amount of saturated fat and sodium in some dim sum dishes, warning that steamed dim sum should not automatically be assumed to be healthy. Health officials recommend balancing fatty dishes with boiled vegetables, minus sauce.

Presentation

The presentation of the Dim Sum meal has no equivalent in the West. Servers push carts, loaded with a variety of foods, through the dining room, past the customers, who keep an eye out for appealing dishes. Once a desired item is in sight, the diner flags down the cart and points out what she wants. The dining room bustles with the activity of carts wending among tables, calls for attention, and the clatter of plates. The idea is to choose things continually throughout the meal, rather than to gather all the food at once before eating. Sweet items are interspersed with the savories; Chinese custom does not include saving sweets for the end of the meal, although they are reserved for special occasions, such as the pauses between courses in a banquet or indulgences like Dim Sum.

Fast Food and Premade Dim Sum

Certain kinds of instant dim sum have come onto the market in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. People can enjoy snacks after a 3-minute defrosting and reheating of the instant dim sum in a microwave oven.

• Some stalls serve "street dim sum" which usually consists of dumplings or meatballs steamed in a large container, but served on a bamboo skewer. The customer can dip the whole skewer into a sauce bowl and eat while standing or walking.

• Dim Sum can be purchased from major grocery stores in most countries with a Chinese population. These dim sum can be easily cooked by steaming or microwaving. Major grocery stores in Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Thailand, USA and Canada have a variety of dim sum stocked at the shelves. These include dumplings, siu maai, bau, cheong fun, lo bak go and steamed spare ribs. In Singapore, as well as other countries, dim sum can also be purchased from convenience stores, coffee shops and other eateries. In Malaysia, one can buy halal-certified dim sum with chicken replacing pork.

Popularity

Today, Dim Sum is served throughout China. The best Dim Sum in China is found in Canton, with its wide assortment of sweet and savory dishes ranging from meatballs to sweet cakes. Still, it is probably true that the best Cantonese Dim Sum chefs are found not in China but in Hong Kong, where restaurants begin serving Dim Sum as early as 6:30 in the morning and continue through mid-afternoon.

Cantonese Dim Sum Highlights

Cantonese Dim Sum Highlights Related

Cantonese Cuisine attraction highlights

Using a wide range of ingredients from the sky, earth and water, Cantonese Cuisine always keeps the freshest taste of each kind of food. It's main cooking methods are steaming and stir-frying, which are the key to the special taste of Cantonese Cuisine.

• Hong Kong
• Guangzhou
• Shenzhen

Cantonese Dim Sum FAQ & Travelers's Tips

1. What are the most important aspects in Chinese food and drinks?
2. What are the 'eight cuisines'?
3. What are some representative cuisines in China?
4. Can Chinese food be used as medicine too?
5. What should I notice when eating with Chinese people?
6. Can I have different cuisines all at one place?
7. What is the most famous tea in China?
8. Why do Chinese love tea so much?
9. What's the difference between Chinese and western alcohol?
10. How to classify Chinese alcohol?
11. On what occasion do Chinese people drink alcohol?
12. Do Chinese people play games while drinking? If they do then what games and how to play?

1. What are the most important aspects in Chinese food and drinks?

   There are three important aspects in Chinese food and drinks: Cuisine, Tea and Alcohol.

   • Cuisine: Chinese intellectuals have created countless dishes with apt names, aromas, flavors and colors, greatly enhancing the dining experience.
     
     
   • Tea: With a profound history of over 4,000 years, Chinese tea is regarded as an exquisite art form that requires sampling.
     
     
   • Alcohol: Alcohol may be featured at sumptuous banquets to ease the expression of diners' thoughts and feelings.

   
   

2. What are the 'eight cuisines'?

   The diversity of geography, climate, costumes and products have led to the evolution of what are called the 'Four Flavors' and 'Eight Cuisines' but as catering is a living art sub-classifications continue to increase. For example in each field of cuisine, adept chefs can utilize something as simple as a melon to create dozens of dishes with dozens of flavors. Meanwhile, local specialties and snacks with their origins steeped in the mists of time are also an important progeny and indicate a profound philosophy and taste. As well as the cuisine of the majority Han people, the many minorities have their own fantastic traditions and appeal.
   
   Cuisine in China is a harmonious integration of color, redolence, taste, shape and the fineness of the instruments. For the cooking process, chefs pick choice and various ingredients and seasonings while employing unparalleled complicated skills handed down from their fathers, ever aspiring to their ideal of perfection for all the senses. Among the many cooking methods they use are boiling, stewing, braising, frying, steaming, crisping, baking, and simmering and so on. When they finish their masterpieces they are arranged on a variety of plates and dishes so that they are a real pleasure to view, to smell and ultimately to savor. The facility to partake of these delights is also distinctive - chopsticks! To see even the smallest child eat with such dexterity is quite amazing for many foreigners. The use of two simple sticks in this way is an art in itself and chopsticks have determined the way in which Chinese food is presented at table.
   
   Cuisine can rise to many different occasions from luxury court feasts, fetes, holy sacrificial rites, joyous wedding ceremonies to simple daily meals and snacks. The art of a good cook is to provide a wholesome and satisfying dish to suit the occasion




3. What are some representative cuisines in China?

   China covers a large territory and has many nationalities, hence a variety of Chinese food with different but fantastic and mouthwatering flavor. Chinese food can be roughly divided into eight regional cuisines. They are Shandong Cuisine, Sichuan Cuisine, Guangdong Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine, Jiangsu Cuisine, Zhejiang Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine. Some very famous are:

   • Beijing Roast duck is a must to taste. The two famous restaurants that serve Beijing Roast Duck are Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant and Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, both of which have a history of over one hundred years. Peking Roast Duck smells good and the skin tastes crisp. The crisp skin is the most prized part of the duck.
     
     
   • Sichuan cuisine is very popular in China. If you can eat some spicy food, Sichuan Hot Pot will be a very good choice. Sichuan cuisine is famous for being spicy and flavorful. Sichuan cuisine also has many delicious snacks and desserts, such as Bangbang chicken, chicken with sesame paste, lantern shadow beef, Beefand Ox Tripein Chili Sauce, steamed beef, noodles with chili sauce, and rice dumplings stuffed with sesame paste.
     
     
   • Dumpling is a very traditional food of China. It will be a pity if you don't eat it when you travel in Xi'an. Dumplings are eaten with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce that may include vinegar, garlic, ginger, rice wine, hot sauce, and sesame oil. Besides, when traveling in Hutong in Beijing, you will have a chance to visit homes of local people. The most attractive experience is that you can learn to make dumplings on your own if you like.
     
     
   • Dim sum is of Cantonese origin and very popular not only in China but also in other Asian countries. The traditional Cantonese dim sum meal is prepared by taking into consideration color, fragrance, taste and shape, quality ingredients, variety, seasonal ingredients and seasonal health benefits.



4. Can Chinese food be used as medicine too?

   Yes. It is called Chinese medicinal cuisine.

   Chinese medicinal cuisine is a long standing tradition. Early records show that it was in use as far back as the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220). Through continual improvement during succeeding dynasties, it has developed into a practical science of nutrition. This is not a simple combination of food and traditional medicine, but is it a distinctive cuisine made from food and medicinal ingredients following the theory of Chinese medicine.
   
   This not only became the means of health-preservation among the people of China, but also spread abroad, especially into Southeast Asia. There is now sufficient interest from people wishing to learn about alternative medicine that regular conventions are held to promote this branch of medical science.
   
   There is a wide choice of foods that are used in many different ways to promote health and well-being. It is estimated that there are more than 600 different kinds of resource ranging from cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats and marine products. Many of these will be unfamiliar to foreigners who may be reluctant to try them; however all are quite precious and effective in the field of medicinal food. Many different ingredients are used to add to the appeal as well as to strengthen effects of the cuisine. Wine, sugar, oil, salt, vinegar and honey, and other commonly available items such as almonds, mandarin orange, or peanuts, all are utilized in the cooking process.
   
   According to its respective functions, medicinal cuisine is classified under four categories: health-protection cuisine, prevention cuisine, healing cuisine and therapeutic cuisine.
   
   Health-protection cuisine refers to reinforcement of required nutritional food correspondingly to maintain the organic health. A soup of pumpkin and almond can help lose weight; soup of angelica and carp can add beauty; and ginseng congee can give more strength.
   
   Prevention cuisine builds resistance to potential ailments. Mung bean soup is considered helpful as a guard against heat stroke in summer. Lotus seeds, lily, yam, chestnuts, and pears can assist in the prevention of dryness in autumn and a strengthening of resistance to cold in winter.
   
   Healing cuisine is the medicinal food for rehabilitation after severe illness. Broiled sheep's heart with rose or braised mutton with angelica will help to rebuild a healthy constitution.
   
   Therapeutic cuisine aims at the specific pathology. Fried potatoes with vinegar can adjust the organ and restrain hypertension and carp soup with Tuckahoe may enrich the strength of blood plasma albumen to help reduce swelling.

   Have a try and you will enjoy the delicacy while benefiting a lot from the nourishment. A really amazing experience!



5. What should I notice when eating with Chinese people?

   Different from table manners in western countries, Chinese table manners are usually 'loud'. It is a way to express your appreciation to the food and show your thanks to the people who make your food. The following is what you should do when eating with Chinese on the same table:

   • Do slurp your soup. Chinese people don't mind some noise while eating;
     
     
   • If you are at a 'feast' then you do not need to finish all the rice in your dish;
     
     
   • If you are eating a small meal with family then do finish the rice that you take; there is a Chinese saying: every grain is the effort of the farmers, so wasting rice is not polite.
     
     
   • Do leave bones, shells or other things you don't want to eat on your plate or on the table;
     
     
   • Do help yourself to the food. Chinese people share food in the same plate, so when you want to eat something you like among all the dishes on the table, don't be shy to reach out your chopsticks.
     
     
   • Do not be too quiet. If there is a guest on the table, or it's a festival meal, Chinese people would not like a quiet dinning table. Talking and laughing will make the room more lively and also provide a friendly atmosphere.
     



6. Can I have different cuisines all at one place?

   Sure. In big cities, there are all kinds of restaurants providing cuisines from all over China. You can enjoy which ever cuisine you want to try without traveling for long distance.




7. What is the most famous tea in China?

   Speaking of tea, every Chinese would tell you that Longjing Tea ( Dragon Well Tea) is the best and most famous tea in China. Below are some introductions to Dragon Well Tea.

   • Production Area
     
     Dragon Well Tea flourishes in the mountainous area where mild climate and plentiful rainfall are plentiful year-round. Around West Lake, Shifeng Peak, Longjing Village, Yunxi Mountain, Hupao and Meijiawu Region offer such prime conditions. The history of planting tea trees is rather long in these areas, as the tea sage Lu Yu mentioned in his Book of Tea. The teas grown in these areas were called Shi, Long, Yun, Hu and Mei respectively in the past. Now, with an increase in production, it is generally classified into Xihu (West Lake) Longjing Tea, Qiantang Longjing Tea and Yuezhou Longjing Tea, among which the Xihu Longjing Tea is the best.
     
   
   
   • Production Process
     
     The excellent quality of Dragon Well Tea is guaranteed by a super elaborate production process. The picking of the tea leaves emphasizes the importance of timeliness. As a famous among tea growers saying goes, 'Tea leaves are a treasure if picked earlier while it is useless as grass if picked too late.' Dragon Well Tea leaves are picked during different periods of time. Generally speaking, the best tea is picked before Qingming Festival, which is called Mingqian Tea. The tea leaves picked before Grain Rain are fairly good and are called Yuqian Tea. The selection process of tea leaves is very strict. Only the delicate and complete tea leaves are to be picked. After the fresh leaves have been picked, tea makers should first grade them, as different qualities of leaves need to be dealt with different temperature and techniques. Tea masters will bake the tea by hand using specially made iron pans. Traditional method of making Dragon Well Tea has many ways - grasp, toss, shake, pile, throw, buckle, press, and grind. Experienced tea masters know well how and when to use the certain movements according to the temperature, color and moisture content of tea leaves. Usually, Dragon Well Tea is graded using a scale of six levels from superior quality to low quality. Different levels of tea have different methods to bake.
     
   
   
   • Infusion of Tea
     
     Good tea must be made with good water, so its flavor can be totally infused. The Dragon Well Tea and Hupao Spring is a perfect match. With less soluble minerals and higher concentration levels of organic nitride, Hupao water is favorable for producing the flavor and fragrance of Dragon Well Tea. The 212F boiled water is not suggested because the high temperature will break the nutrition and taste. Instead, boiled water at around 185F is appropriate. Usually people use glasses as the tea ware to infuse Dragon Well Tea because the beauty of the tea leaves rising and falling in the water can be enjoyed through the transparent glass. Like the newly-opened orchid, the tea leaves extend their waists gently and slowly. It is no doubt an inspirational experience.
     
     Dragon Well Tea adds luster to West Lake and has become another reason for travelers to visit the lake. It is a heavenly unforgettable experience for visitors to take in the beautiful views around the lake while enjoying a cup of Dragon Well Tea.
   
   

8. Why do Chinese love tea so much?

   Tea is a mysterious but harmonious combination; it is spiritual as well as material, and invigorating as well as pacifying. Its character is flexible in different environments. For example, as tea goes in a different direction, a different tea culture is formed. In Japan, the rigorous tea ceremony reflects the nation's character of making full use of every resource, while tea also represents peace of mind. In the West, tea with sugar and milk may be served with desserts to create a leisurely and romantic atmosphere.
   
   Similarly, tea-drinking habits vary in different parts of China. Roughly, scented tea is popular in northern China; green tea is preferred in eastern China, and black tea is optimum for people in Fujian and Guangdong.

   Notably, Yum Cha (tea drinking) is very popular in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Though dim sum, the true highlight of Yum Cha, is what attracts gourmets, tea is an essential part of the meal.



9. What's the difference between Chinese and western alcohol?

   Many Chinese alcoholic drinks are quite distinctive from those of other countries and foreign visitors coming across them for the first time may a little wary of them. However, once they have tasted a sample or two, they may well acquire a taste for the various drinks available and find they really enjoy them!

   An important component of Chinese cuisine and culture, the use of alcohol can be traced back to the dawn of the nation's history. Over the centuries many different kinds of alcoholic drinks have been developed and brewing methods as well as distillation has become more sophisticated. At the same time the way of consuming these desirable products has become a vital part of custom and culture.



10. How to classify Chinese alcohol?

    There are several kinds of Chinese alcohol, which are classified into five categories.

    • Liquor
      
      Chinese liquor, which is one of the six world-famous varieties of spirits (the other five being brandy, whisky, rum, vodka, and gin), has a more complicated production method and can be made from various staples - broomcorn, corn, rice, and wheat. Opinions regarding the origin of this liquor are divided but in the main there are four possibilities varying from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220), Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Song Dynasty (960 - 1297) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), but most people tend to agree that it actually dates from the Song Dynasty. Based on this long tradition, today's distillers create a spirit that is crystal clear, aromatic, and tasty. The most famous brand is Maotai and this holds the title of the 'National Liquor'. It is said that an empty bottle that was once filled with Maotai will emanate its fragrance after a few of days. There are other excellent brands also such as Wuliangye and Luzhou Tequ. These were both award winners at the Panama International Exposition. To facilitate its slow maturing process, the spirit is stored for 4 - 5 years, over which time the full fragrance and flavor develops, thus ensuring that it is a most enjoyable beverage to offer honored guests.
      
      
    • Yellow Wine
      
      As one of the world's ancient wines, Yellow wine, is unique and traditional in China. With a history going back some 5,000 years, it is renowned for its yellow color and luster. Made from rice and sticky rice, the alcohol content is usually 10 - 15 per cent. After the fermentation process, the wine has a balmy fragrance and is sweet tasting with no sharpness. The wine has a wide appeal and is often used for culinary purposes as well as a beverage. The most popular brands of yellow wine are made in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province and in Shandong, while Hongqu yellow wine made in Fujian.
      
      
    • Fruit Wine
      
      Fruit wine is mainly made from grapes, pears, oranges, litchis, sugarcane, hawthorn berries, and waxberries and all are quite palatable. Fruit wines possibly have the longest history and there is even a legend that apes brewed wines based on the natural fermentation of fruits; while the man-made wines appeared later. Wine was probably brought into China from the western region in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220) and was popular in the Tang Dynasty. Now the fruit wine production is quite widely produced, with grape wine being the most prominent.
      
      
    • Integrated Alcoholic Beverages
      
      These drinks are created from wine and spirits to which has been added the zest or fragrances from fruits, herbs or flowers. More exotic or medicinal concoctions can contain other plant or even animal derivatives. These blends include wines and medicinal beverages with a very wide range of aromas, flavors and benefits in which the various levels of alcohol and sugar content help to produce styles that are so unique to China. The craft of medical practitioners from ancient times has been well documented and there are many books detailing the art and methods of producing these health products. Alternative medicine is a vital part of tonic day-to-day Chinese life and medicines such as tiger-bone liquor, wolfberry wine, safflower wine, ginseng-antler wine, etc. are still produced and contribute to the extensive repertoire of treatments available.
      
      
    • Beer
      
      Unlike spirits and many wines, beer has much lower alcohol content and is most commonly made from barley and hops. Although beer was not produced in China until the early 20th century, the historical records show that as far back as 3,200 years ago a light, sweet wine named 'li' was made using malted barley. It took time for beer to become widely accepted by the Chinese people but in modern China there is a thriving brewing industry and today there are many brands of quality beers which have become well-known and appreciated by beer drinkers both at home and abroad.

11. On what occasion do Chinese people drink alcohol?

    Alcoholic beverages have inspired many writers resulting in thousands of poems and other works relative to 'the magic elixir'. People drink it when they are joyous and for fun and although we are aware that an over indulgence can harm the constitution, nevertheless drinking in moderation is considered beneficial. No banquet would be complete without it, while a toast can seal a business enterprise, send troops into battle with a prayer for victory as well as endorse a wish for the health and happiness of family and friends. One of the classic examples of the ceremonial use of alcohol is described in the famous story 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The three heroes in the epic tale, become blood brothers by drinking bowls of wine into which they have mixed drops of their own blood from cuts in their fingers! This act may seem extreme but was a symbol of faithfulness in those days.




12. Do Chinese people play games while drinking? If they do then what games and how to play?

    Game is an inseparable part of alcohol culture. Drinking games were created thousands of years ago. Now we will introduce some most popular drinking games.

    • Common Jiuling: These games do not require a great deal of acumen and are thus easy to learn and play.
      
      
    • Dice are rolled and contestants have to guess number of spots. Those who make an incorrect guess pay a forfeit by taking a cup of drink.
      
      
    • The 'Gong Show' is another popular pastime. A person beats a drum or gong behind the scenes, the other people sitting around the table will quickly pass a flower from one to another. When the drummer stops, whoever has the flower will drink and even give a simple performance according to the rules. In the famous book The Dream of Red Mansions, the dignified family also played in this way.
      
      
    • 'Finger guessing'is interesting. Two people stretch out fingers at the same time while shouting out a number from 2 to 20. If one shouts out a number that is equal to the total number of fingers extended, then he will win, while the person shouts a number that is less, will lose the game and has to take a drink as a punishment. To add to the fun of the game, the players do not just give the numbers but will say a relevant phrase such as 'two kind brothers' to represent 2, 'three stars shining' (3), 'making a fortune in four seasons' (4), and so on.
      
      
    • Literary Jiuling: has a more sophisticated style and consequently in ancient China only educated people could enjoy it. They also thought up many ways in which to play, such as asking riddles, connecting idioms, composing couplets or verses, telling stories or jokes, and so on.