DIM SUM: THE AUTHENTIC GUANGZHOU WAY
Many of you have heard of Dim Sum and maybe even have tried it before. However, you probably haven’t experienced the true authenticity Dim Sum has to offer. When Cantonese people wants to eat Dim Sum, they use the phrase 飲茶 (jam2 caa4) instead of “Let’s go have Dim Sum”. 飲茶 can also be said as “飲早茶” meaning “morning tea”. The culture of 飲茶 originated in Guangzhou, the capital city of the Guangdong province. Even though the saying means “to drink tea”, the essence of this culture is to find some time to be in the company of friends and family. 飲茶 is an experience that Guangzhou people describe as an enjoyment. You are enjoying the variety of delicacies, the amazing aroma of tea, and the companionship of those close to you. In order to fully enjoy the authentic way of 飲茶, there are some points that needs to be kept in mind. We will discuss these points in detail below. Read on to learn how to enjoy 飲茶 the authentic Guangzhou way.
Time
The first thing you need to know is the time Guangzhou people usually have morning tea. When you hear morning tea you might think of breakfast. But, in reality, 飲茶 is usually brunch for Cantonese people. The time frame is around 10am to 1pm with 11am being the most popular. Therefore, if you are planning to 飲茶, then you are advised to go a bit earlier. Even if you plan to go for the 10am slot, it is recommended that you arrive at least 20 minutes early to get a good seat. This is especially true when you are going to a well known Dim Sum place, or in cantonese we call 茶樓 (caa4 lau4) which translates to tea tower.
Getting a good seat… or generally any seat
In popular Dim Sum restaurants, it is very difficult to get a seat in the typical time slot mentioned above. When you go to a Dim Sum restaurant and there are no seats at the moment, you will be given a slip of paper with a number on it. That is the number you need to listen for.
Warning: Do not stray from the entrance because if you miss your number, your table may be given away.
A tip is to appoint one person in the group to arrive earlier at the restaurant to get a number slip. When the number is close to being called, the person will call and tell the rest of the group. But be sure to be ready to leave the house quickly before the call arrives. It is impolite and awkward for one person to sit at a big table when many people are waiting at the entrance.
Getting a good seat really depends on your luck. Sometimes restaurants have a stage with two to three tables that overlooks the entire floor. Those are the seats that most people aim for. But it is really to your preference. Most of the time you will sit at whatever seat the waitress leads you to after your number is called. However, If you are a regular at the restaurant and you know management, then you have a higher chance of sitting at your favorite spot.
Ordering Tea
Once you are seated, the first thing the waitress will ask you is what tea you would like to drink. There are a large variety of tea and each has their own set of benefits to human health. But we are not going to get into it today. The most common types people order are the following:
Oolong Tea (烏龍茶)
Tie Guan Yin Tea (鐵觀音)
Pu erh Tea (普洱)
Jasmine Tea (茉莉花茶)
Authors Pick: Tie Guan Yin Tea (鐵觀音)
If you are a morning tea veteran then you might bring your own tea leaves instead of ordering.
Disinfect plates
There is an important ritual that people do before eating dim sum. In Guangzhou, people will cleanse their plates with hot water or hot tea. They believe that it is more sanitary when the plates are disinfected by the high temperature of the water. In Guangzhou, you will usually see a large empty bowl placed in the middle of the table before you even sit down. That is the bowl you pour the water in after you have cleanse your plates. They describe it as a ritual that sets the whole atmosphere for morning tea.
Ordering Dim Sum
The way you order dim sum really depends on the restaurant you go to. You will either see people pushing a cart filled with dimsum around or you will get a menu to check off the dishes you want. The carts with steamers are usually used in more traditional dim sum restaurants. The waitress pushing them around will be calling out the names of the dim sum in their carts. Be sure to listen for ones that you would like to try. When the cart comes to your table and you order the dishes you want, the waitress will ask you for “the card”. The card is given to you when you are seated. For every dish you order, you will get a stamp on the card. The clerk will calculate your bill by using those stamps when you pay for your meal.
Some dim sum places will use a menu where you tick off the dim sum dishes you’d like before handing it to a waiter or waitress. The dim sum on the menu will most likely be categorized as small/ medium/ large/ special/ top/ super/ premium orders. It is categorized by price usually with small orders being the cheapest and premium being the most expensive. Note that small, medium, and large does not signify the size of the dish but its price.
Enjoy
Last step of the dim sum journey is to enjoy it! Enjoy the food, the tea, and the atmosphere. Most importantly enjoy the presence of your companions.
Little things to remember
1. Use bowls instead of using plates. This is not necessarily a rule but if you are having dim sum in China, then remember not to use your plates for food. The plates are there for fish or chicken bones.
2. If you notice that the cup of the person next to you needs a refill and the tea kettle is near you, then you need to take the initiative and refill their cup. However, be sure to refill other cups around the table as well. It is considered impolite if you only refill the cups of people next to you. Even if a person’s cup is full, pour a tiny bit to show your respect,
3. It is natural to say thank you when people pour you tea. However, in cantonese instead of 多谢 (do1 ze6), we say 唔該 (m4 goi1). Another way to say thank you is to tap the table lightly with your index and middle finger.
4. If you need to refill your tea kettle with hot water, all you need to do is to open the lid of the kettle and set it aside. The waitress/ waiter will notice and get the message. There is no need to wave them over.
Resources
Learning Cantonese will definitely be the best booster to the authentic dim sum experience. Below are some resources you can check out. We even have a free podcast you can listen to for a couple sentences of conversational Cantonese. This way the next time you have dim sum, you can possibly show off a little bit of your language skills!
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