Hong Kong, the home of the dim sum, those delectable bundles of yumminess. This, my friend, is a “must do” experience if you have the privilege of visiting Hong Kong. Mouth watering treasures that you must experience to believe.
In terms of Chinese history the dim sum is fairly new on the scene, making it’s appearance around the 10th century. Traditionally dim sum is forever linked to yum cha, the drinking of tea. The tea houses in Hong Kong are where the story of the dim sum begins. Tea houses which were created for the weary traveler to find rest after a long journey, also became a place of meeting and rest for the weary farmer at the end of a long day. Tea was good, but who doesn’t need a little something to hold them over till dinner? Tea house owners began adding little bites to accompany the tea and dim sum was born.
There are actually over 2,000 different varieties of these little tea snacks. Most large restaurants only prepare about 100 different ones each day, though they will rotate the variety from day to day. So you could actually eat at the same restaurant and have a totally different experience. As you sit at your table dim sum laden trolleys will be pushed around the dining room and you stop the cart and ask for what you desire.
Most dim sum items are either steamed or fried, the choices are limitless. Of course, you will have the ever present pot of tea on the table, because that is where it all began.
Don’t worry about trying to keep track of how much you are eating. The empty baskets are usually left on the table to allow the wait staff to count your servings when you are finished. If they do take them away you will be provided with a ticket that will be stamped each time you take a basket from the trolley.
Though dim sum restaurants tend to be noisy, it is all part of the experience. There is nothing like dim sum in Hong Kong!