Dim Sum

Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese cuisine known for its small bites served in bamboo steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim Sum is usually linked with the older tradition of Yum Cha (drinking tea), which has its roots in travelers on the ancient Silk Road needing a place to rest and refresh. Thus, teahouses were established along the roadside. Rural farmers, exhausted after working hard in the fields, would 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.

History

The unique culinary art of dim sum originated with the Cantonese in southern China, who over the centuries transformed yum cha from a relaxing respite to a loud and happy dining experience. In Hong Kong, and in most cities and towns in Guangdong province, many restaurants start serving dim sum as early as five in the morning. It is a tradition for the elderly to gather to eat dim sum after morning exercises. For many in southern China, yum cha is treated as a weekend family day. More traditional dim sum restaurants typically serve dim sum until mid-afternoon. However, in modern society, it has become commonplace for restaurants to serve dim sum at dinner time; various dim sum items are even sold as take-out for students and office workers on the go.

Preparation and Serving

While dim sum preparation is usually complex and requires a lot of experience and skill, the serving style is quite simple. The dim sum is usually wheeled out on a trolley by the servers for the diners to choose their desired dishes. The servers will then mark the orders on a bill kept on each table. The bill is finally tallied when the diners are ready to leave.

Popular Dim Sum Dishes

Some of the most popular dim sum dishes include Har Gow (steamed shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (steamed pork and shrimp dumplings), Char Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns), Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls), and Lo Mai Gai (steamed glutinous rice in lotus leaf).

See Also

• Chinese Cuisine
• Yum Cha
• Cantonese Cuisine

Dim Sum Resources
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