Dim Sum

Chinese food · brunch · tea culture · Cantonese

Tiny taste treasures. Dim sum means "touch the heart" in Chinese, and it's all about eating many small, carefully made dishes instead of one big meal. Each little plate or basket is a perfect bite-sized adventure!

Tea time tradition. Dim sum started over 1,000 years ago in Canton (now Guangzhou) when travelers would stop at teahouses for small snacks with hot tea. The custom is called "yum cha," which means enjoying brunch with tea.

One cup, two pieces. There's a special rule called "jat zung loeng gin" that means teahouses serve you two small, fancy foods, either savory or sweet, to go perfectly with your tea. It's like a balanced team of flavors!

Cantonese specialty. While dim sum exists in other Chinese cuisines, it's most famous as a Cantonese tradition from southern China. These cultures perfected the art of making delicate, delicious tiny dishes.

Endless variety. Dim sum includes steamed dumplings, spring rolls, custard tarts, sticky rice, and so much more. You get to try lots of different flavors and textures in one meal!