Dim Sum is a popular dish that originates in China and is traditionally eaten as a light meal, such as for brunch or lunch, or to go alongside tea. It’s very much a meal that is shared by family and friends, rather than something that is enjoyed, typically, by a lone diner. Often, Dim Sum restaurants will serve the dish on trolleys and you will have the chance to choose which one you would like. However, other restaurants will have a different way of serving their Dim Sum. With so much information around the World of Dim Sum, we’re going to tell you everything there is to know about it. What is Dim Sum, what is the history behind the dish and how can you make it at home? Let’s take a closer look:

What is Dim Sum?

Associated with regions of Guanzhong and Hong Kong, Dim Sum translates to “touch the heart”, but it’s also linked to the term “yum cha”, meaning to enjoy eating Dim Sum and drinking tea. Traditionally, tea is served with Dim Sum. This is because, authentically, Chinese tea is served with delectable snacks, falling into two different categories: sweet and savoury. They’re also cooked in different ways, depending on its contents and what it’s intended for. Dim Sum can be soaked by way of:

• Stir-frying
• Steaming
• Deep-frying
• Baking

According to Thrillist, there are some Dim Sum dishes that are a must-order for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned Dim Sum diner or a beginner Dim Sum taster. Some of the go-to Dim Sum dishes are as follows:

• Crystal shrimp dumplings (har gow)
• Coconut bins (gai mei bao)
• Coconut pudding 
• Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce (ho yau gai lan)
• BBQ pork puffs (char sui so)
• Beef meatballs (ngao yuk)
• Cruller-stuffed rice-noodle rolls (zhaliang)
• Deep-fried shrimp balls
• Sesame balls (jin dui)
• Pineapple custard buns (bo lo nai wong bao)
• Potstickers (guotie)
• Pan-fried turnip cake (lo bak go)

The history of Dim Sum

The origins of Dim Sum dishes can be traced back to as early as the Jin Dynasty, occurring between 265-420 AD. It is said that travellers at this time would visit teahouses whereby they could gather socially. Eventually, alongside the Chinese tea, teahouse owners would start serving accompaniments to the hot beverage - Dim Sum. To start with, Dim Sum consisted of only seeds and nuts, but it began to evolve into steamed buns and dumplings as time went on and as culinary skills advanced. 

Just as there are speciality Dim Sum restaurants today, there were Dim Sum restaurants and teahouses around as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). By this time, Dim Sum was also an integral part of the imperial court’s cuisine, with emperors and high-ranking officials enjoying banquets where Dim Sum was served in abundance. Just as in the early days of people visiting teahouses and enjoying Dim Sum as a social event, the same can still be said in modern times. 

Traditionally, Dim Sum is enjoyed by families or groups of friends; something that hasn’t really changed. In addition to that, the Dim Sum that’s served today could have once been enjoyed by people who lived hundreds of years ago, whether they were passersby through a territory or travellers from other regions, or an all-important official or emperor. No matter what, Dim Sum has, and continues to be, a delicious dish that’s favoured by many. 

How does Dim Sum work?

This might sound strange, but there’s actually a bit of an art to ordering Dim Sum, especially if you’re dining at a socialist restaurant. Firstly, the general rule is to start by ordering some tea. This is because Dim Sum is traditionally served with tea. Some of the go-to teas that are enjoyed alongside Dim Sum are: black, jasmine, chrysanthemum and oolong. There’s also an etiquette to pouring the tea. 

If you’re enjoying Dim Sum as a group, then the youngest person at the table will fill up everyone’s cup before they start to fill their own. But there’s an order to this. The youngest person must fill the cups in order from the oldest diner to the youngest. You might also be wondering, at this point, why tea is enjoyed alongside Dim Sum. It’s because the hot, steamy beverage can wash down food that is greasy or oily. 

The next stage in the process is to exactly acquire some Dim Sum. Depending on the restaurant you visit, Dim Sum is either served on pushcarts or made to order. A Dim Sum pushcart gives the diner the opportunity to see the whole menu out on a tray for you to feast your eyes on. Once you see a dish that you like, simply tell the person who is pushing the cart and they will lift it off the trolley and onto your table. They will then mark your table with a stamp or a pen; this indicates the price point for when you’re ready to pay your bill. 

If there isn’t a pushcart service, or if there’s some Dim Sum that you wanted that wasn’t on the cart, you can tell your server what it is you would like and it will subsequently be made-to-order. This is often the case with the more popular dishes, more so when served on a pushcart. In some cases, a DIm Sum restaurant might just operate in the same way as any other restaurant. It could be as simple as being given a menu and you tell your server what you would like. If this is the case, it’s common practice to order more than one dish, perhaps around two or three to make an adequate meal. 

How to make Dim Sum

Dim Sum can be made at home, with the right tools, ingredients and knowledge. While it might seem simple enough, you’ll need the help of a specialist who will be able to tell you how to create authentic Dim Sum for yourself and your dinner guests. If you’re wanting to master the art of making Dim Sum, then look to School of Wok for Dim Sum cooking courses in London. We have a team of specialist chefs who will be able to tell you how to prepare, cook and present your Dim Sum dishes in a way that is both traditional and delectable. If you’re wanting to make Dim Sum at home with a flawless taste and immaculate presentation, then look to School of Wok for Dim Sum cooking classes in London. 

If you would like further information about our Dim Sum cooking courses in London, then get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team either by giving us a call on 0736 526 6695 or emailing us via [email protected] - we’re always pleased to hear from you.