Information AboutDim Sum |
Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese Tea . It can include dishes based on Meat , Seafood , vegetables, as well as Dessert s and Fruit . The various items are usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. Yum Cha (literally "tea drinking") is the actual term used to describe the dining session, especially in contemporary Cantonese . NAME The Cantonese phrase ''Dim Sum'' () means literally "touch the heart" or "order to your heart's content". It may be derived from ''yat dim sum yi'' (), meaning "a little token". ("A Touch of Heart" is perhaps the more poetic translation.) Though the English word "dim sum" refers to the Cantonese variety, the idea of a wide variety of small dishes for lunch also holds for other regions of China. Equivalent terms, such as ''dian xin'' in Mandarin , exist in other varieties of Chinese, as a generic term for any of a variety of snacks or small food items. The terms "northern ''dian xin''" or "Shanghai ''dian xin''" (dee-shin) have thus come into use. These ''dian xin'' are, however, not necessarily Cantonese dim sum, although the two still share the same written script in traditional and simplified characters. Likewise, the Korean Cognate ''jeomsim'' (점심) may refer to any kind of lunch. In Australia the word '' Dim Sim '' is used for a particular kind of dumpling. HISTORY Travellers on the ancient Silk Road needed a place to take a nap, so teahouses were established along the roadside. Rural farmers, exhausted after working hard in the fields, would also 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. In Hong Kong, and most cities and towns in Guangdong province, many Chinese restaurants start serving as early as five in the morning. It is a tradition for the elderly to gather to eat dim sum after morning exercises, often enjoying the morning newspapers. For many southerners in China, ''yum cha'' is treated as a weekend family day. Consistent with this tradition, dim sum restaurants typically only serve dim sum until the afternoon (right around the time of a traditional Western 3 o'clock coffee break); other kinds of Cantonese Cuisine are served in the evening. Nowadays, various dim sum items are sold as Takeaway for students and office workers on the go. While dim sum remains a staple of Chinese culinary culture, especially in Hong Kong, health officials have recently criticized the high amount of Saturated Fat and Sodium in some dim sum dishes, warning that steamed dim sum should not automatically be assumed to be healthy. phillyburbs Health officials recommend balancing fatty dishes with boiled vegetables, minus sauce. tobkes DRINKING TEA ]] See Also: Yum cha The drinking of tea is as important to dim sum as the food. A popular tea which is said to aid in digestion is '' Bolay '' (''pu erh''), which is a strong, fermented tea. Chrysanthemum , Oolong and green tea can be served as well. It is customary to pour tea for others during dim sum before filling one's own cup. A custom unique to the Cantonese is to thank the person pouring the tea by tapping the bent index and middle fingers together on the table. This is said to resemble the ritual of bowing to someone. Given the number of times tea is poured in a meal, it is a timesaver in loud restaurants, as an individual being served might be speaking to someone else and/or have food in their mouth. CUISINE ]] Traditional dim sum includes various types of steamed buns such as '' Cha Siu Baau '', Dumpling s and rice noodle rolls (cheong fun), which contain a range of Ingredient s, including Beef , chicken, pork, Prawn s and Vegetarian options. Many dim sum restaurants also offer plates of steamed green vegetables, roasted meats, congee porridge and other soups. Dessert dim sum is also available and many places offer the customary Egg Tart . Having a meal in a Chinese Teahouse or a dim sum restaurant is known as ''yum cha'' (飲茶), literally "drinking tea", as tea is typically served with dim sum. Dim sum can be cooked by Steaming and Frying , among other methods. The serving sizes are usually small and normally served as three or four pieces in one dish. It is customary to order family style, sharing dishes among all members of the dining party. Because of the small portions, people can try a wide variety of food. Dim sum dishes can be ordered from a menu or sometimes the food is wheeled around on a trolley by servers. Traditionally, the cost of the meal is calculated based on the number, size, and sometimes color of the dishes left on the patron's table (more below). Some modern dim sum restaurants record the dishes on a bill at the table. Not only is this tidier, it also prevents patrons from cheating by concealing or stealing the plates. Servers in some restaurants use distinct stamps so that sales statistics for each server can be recorded. DIM SUM ]] sou'' as served in a dim sum restaurant in Singapore ]] '' wrapped in Lotus Leaf ]] are frequently found in grocers catering to Chinese customers]] Dim sum restaurants have a wide variety of dishes, usually several dozen. Among the standard fare of dim sum are the following: Main
Sweets
FAST FOOD AND PREMADE DIM SUM , Hong Kong.]] Certain kinds of instant dim sum have come onto the market in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. People can enjoy snacks after a 3-minute defrosting and reheating of the instant dim sum in a Microwave Oven . Some stalls serve "street dim sum" which usually consists of dumplings or meatballs steamed in a large container, but served on a bamboo Skewer . The customer can dip the whole skewer into a sauce bowl and eat while standing or walking. Dim Sum can be purchased from major grocery stores in most countries with a Chinese population. These dim sum can be easily cooked by steaming or microwaving. Major grocery stores in Hong Kong, Philippines , Singapore, Taiwan , Mainland China , Malaysia , Thailand , USA and Canada have a variety of dim sum stocked at the shelves. These include dumplings, ''siu maai'', ''bau'', ''cheong fun'', ''lo bak go'' and steamed spare ribs. In Singapore, as well as other countries, dim sum can also be purchased from Convenience Store s, Coffee Shops and other eateries. In Malaysia, one can buy Halal -certified dim sum with chicken replacing pork. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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