If it is your first time having dim sum, we recommend you to try either Chrysanthemum or Iron Buddha Tea! Whereas the other tea is like drinking a black coffee, drinking (dark) Sau Mei is like drinking an espresso. Its bold and bitter flavours might not fare well with everyone, especially if it has been steeping for too long. Last but not least is the white tea Sau Mei. However, it does have a hint of bitterness. Rich in flavour but still possessing a smooth floral profile, it pairs well with any type of dim sum. Iron Budhha (or Tit Kwun Yum in Cantonese) is personally my favourite type of tea. Its floral and slightly sweet flavour is perfect for someone who is not too familiar with the different types of tea. It’s bold, earthy and rustic flavor profile is perfect for greasy dim sum.Ĭhrysanthemum (Guk Fa in Cantonese), once the most popular tea for dim sum in Hong Kong, is becoming less common. If you are a fan of black tea, you should try the Bo Lay tea. The most popular types are Bo Lay, Chrysanthemum, Iron Budhha, or Sau Mei. If you have not read this dim sum guide, then you might say something like black tea or green tea, but it is not that simple.ĭepending on the dim sum restaurant, there could be several different types of teas. The moment you sit down, the servers will ask you what type of tea you would like. Like we have mentioned, tea is an important part of having dim sum, or yum cha (literally translates to drinking tea). In fact, this ability to bring everyone together is one of the reasons why dim sum is not going away anytime soon, despite their unhealthiness! After dim sum, everyone usually gathers up and play some mahjong, a traditional Chinese tile game! To local Hong Konger, yum cha is not just about indulging in the delicious food, it is also about gathering family and relatives together, especially on the weekends. It is rare to see someone going to “yum cha” solo. That is why when you visit a dim sum restaurant, you will often families and groups of friends. When comparing to food from other countries, dim sum closely resemble Spanish tapas in the way that they are meant to be shared. That is because tea is usually accompanied by the dim sum, and many consider it as important as the dim sum themselves.

Having dim sum is usually referred to as “yum cha’, or drinking tea in Hong Kong. Only dim sum that need to be steamed are served in the bamboo baskets. However, unlike what many people believe, not all dim sum are served in a traditional bamboo basket. You might have seen them in stacks of bamboo baskets. This dim sum guide will help you prepare for your first dim sum visit, so you can come out with a new understanding of one of the oldest Hong Kong traditions!ĭim sum simply refer to the large variety of small dishes that Cantonese people traditionally enjoy, usually for breakfast or lunch. Because of how complicated and intimidating dim sum restaurants might seem, many travellers avoid one of the quintessential experiences when travelling to Hong Kong.

However, there is one activity in Hong Kong that many travellers miss – trying dim sum. When you visit Hong Kong, there are many things you must do – go on the Lion Rock hike, visit the Big Budhha, take the Peak Tram, and many more.

Hong kong dim sum