Dim Sum – little Pieces that fill the Heart

Dim Sum – small pieces that fill the heart, is the translation from Cantonese, but they also fill the stomach. Dim Sum is a traditional breakfast/brunch/lunch from the area of South China. It consists of small bites served with appropriate sauces or condiments.

Over the centuries, an incredible number of different dim sums have been invented. It is estimated that there are about 2000 types, but a restaurant can usually prepare no more than 100 types. A portion of dim sum usually consists of a small plate with about 4 pieces, or a bamboo basket with 4-5 dumplings. All parts of an animal are used, that is, from tail to snout of pig, foot to head of chicken.

Dim sum originates from the Sung Dynasty (960-1280), specifically from the tea drinking tradition. Slowly, tea drinking, Yum Cha, was refreshed with small snacks, which gave rise to a “cult”. There are sweet and savory dim sums and the tea changes depending on what you eat. We recommend the Pu-erh tea (Bo Lai), which makes the fat of the dim sums easier to digest. Many tourists drink jasmine tea because they are not familiar with pu-erh. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Traditionally, a pitcher of tea and a pitcher of hot water will be put on the table. The tea is made with leaves that are reused, that is, once the pitcher is empty, you take off the lid and the server fills the pitcher with water again. The water pitcher is for diluting the tea, since it remains in the water and becomes strong and bitter with time.

Often there is a bowl of hot water on the table, it is there to wash the chopsticks and bowls before use.

In only a few restaurants the traditional dim sum carts are still used. They are pushed by women and contain small dim sum baskets or plates that you can buy. For this you get a stamp on a sheet of paper and at the end it is added up.

And of course, many more like chicken feet, steamed buns, rice cakes, mutton dumpling (North China), tea eggs, often pickled vegetables and boiled peanuts are served.