DIM SUM 101DIM SUM 101Ha Gow! Siu Mai!Ha Gow! Siu Mai!

Dim Sum - IntroDim Sum - Intro• Originally a Cantonese customOriginally a Cantonese custom• Dim Sum is inextricably linked to the Chinese tradition of Dim Sum is inextricably linked to the Chinese tradition of

"yum cha" or drinking tea"yum cha" or drinking tea• Travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road needed a Travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road needed a

place to rest, so teahouses began springing up along the place to rest, so teahouses began springing up along the roadside. roadside.

• Rural farmers, exhausted after long hours working in the Rural farmers, exhausted after long hours working in the fields, would also head to the local teahouse for an fields, would also head to the local teahouse for an afternoon of tea and relaxing conversation.   afternoon of tea and relaxing conversation.  

• Originally considered inappropriate to combine tea with Originally considered inappropriate to combine tea with food - in fact a famous 3rd century Imperial physician food - in fact a famous 3rd century Imperial physician claimed this would lead to excessive weight gain. claimed this would lead to excessive weight gain.

• However, as tea's ability to aid in digestion and cleanse the However, as tea's ability to aid in digestion and cleanse the palate became known, tea house proprietors began adding palate became known, tea house proprietors began adding a variety of snacks, and the tradition of dim sum was born.a variety of snacks, and the tradition of dim sum was born.

TeasTeas• Healthy - Chinese tea is healthy in a lot of Healthy - Chinese tea is healthy in a lot of

ways. It lowers blood pressure, protects the ways. It lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, helps to prevent obesity, prevents heart, helps to prevent obesity, prevents tooth decay and increases immunity, etc. tooth decay and increases immunity, etc.

• Chinese tea's impact on one's psychological Chinese tea's impact on one's psychological health is immediate. health is immediate.

• Sitting and chatting with a few good friends Sitting and chatting with a few good friends over a couple rounds of tea makes life over a couple rounds of tea makes life worth living. worth living.

Customs with Chinese Customs with Chinese TeaTea• Marriages: parents who long for their sons to get Marriages: parents who long for their sons to get

married as "wanting to drink 'daughter-in-law's married as "wanting to drink 'daughter-in-law's tea'".  In traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, tea'".  In traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is a gesture of and serve them tea. That is a gesture of gratefulness. gratefulness.

• Respect: Younger generation greet elder Respect: Younger generation greet elder generation with a cup of tea. That is a way to show generation with a cup of tea. That is a way to show their respect. In organizations and families, only their respect. In organizations and families, only people of lower rank serve tea to higher rank people of lower rank serve tea to higher rank people. At least it was like that in the old days.people. At least it was like that in the old days.

Customs with Chinese Customs with Chinese TeaTea• Apologize: When we have a serious apology to Apologize: When we have a serious apology to make and words are not enough, we "pour tea make and words are not enough, we "pour tea and apologize". That is an act of regretfulness aand apologize". That is an act of regretfulness and submissiveness.nd submissiveness.• Remember to say thanks: After guy A pours a cuRemember to say thanks: After guy A pours a cup of tea for guy B, you see guy B knocking his bep of tea for guy B, you see guy B knocking his bended index and middle fingers (or similar varietnded index and middle fingers (or similar varieties of finger tapping) on the table. You bet your ies of finger tapping) on the table. You bet your savings that are secret agents. You are broke. Tsavings that are secret agents. You are broke. They are just Chinese. hey are just Chinese.

Common Types of TeasCommon Types of Teas• White Tea ShouMei Longevity Eyebrow – White Tea ShouMei Longevity Eyebrow – similar to green tea except that it's roasted, hasimilar to green tea except that it's roasted, has the lowest caffeine content is very light in cols the lowest caffeine content is very light in color and aroma.or and aroma.• Black Tea Pu’Er Pu’Er - fermented tea class,Black Tea Pu’Er Pu’Er - fermented tea class, everyday tea of the west and northwest, good everyday tea of the west and northwest, good for cleaning up the digestive channel because ifor cleaning up the digestive channel because it's an emulsifier for fat and cholesterol. t's an emulsifier for fat and cholesterol.

Common Types of TeasCommon Types of Teas• Flower Tea Mo Li Hua Cha Jasmine - aka scented tea, Flower Tea Mo Li Hua Cha Jasmine - aka scented tea, base of flower tea can be black, green or whatever. Thbase of flower tea can be black, green or whatever. Then ingredients like flower petals might be added. Flowen ingredients like flower petals might be added. Flower tea is popular in northern China. er tea is popular in northern China. • Oolong Tea An Xie Tie Guan Yin Iron Goddess - half-ferOolong Tea An Xie Tie Guan Yin Iron Goddess - half-fermented and thus is relatively thick in flavor. Oolong temented and thus is relatively thick in flavor. Oolong tea is very popular in south-east China and Taiwan and a is very popular in south-east China and Taiwan and also the most used tea for Kung Fu Cha. Oolong is an ealso the most used tea for Kung Fu Cha. Oolong is an emulsifier for fat and cholesterol. Like a savior for todamulsifier for fat and cholesterol. Like a savior for today's junk food eaters. And since Oolong emulsifies, maky's junk food eaters. And since Oolong emulsifies, make sure you don't drink it with an empty stomach. e sure you don't drink it with an empty stomach.

White TeaWhite Tea• White teaWhite tea

Flower TeaFlower Tea• Jasmine TeaJasmine Tea

Black TeaBlack Tea• Pu’ErPu’Er

Oolong TeaOolong Tea• OolongOolong

Shrimp DumplingsShrimp Dumplings• Ha GaoHa Gao• Starch, water, salStarch, water, saltt• Filling: Filling: Shrimp, Pork fat, Shrimp, Pork fat, bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, pepper, ginger, Spepper, ginger, Sesame oil, Egg wesame oil, Egg white & Cornstarchhite & Cornstarch

Phoenix FeetPhoenix Feet• Fung JowFung Jow• chicken feetchicken feetoiloilwaterwaterfresh gingerfresh gingerChinese parsley rootsChinese parsley rootssugarsugar• Marinade:Marinade:oyster sauce, sugar, soy soyster sauce, sugar, soy sauce, sake, chilly pepperauce, sake, chilly peppergarlic, minced white peppgarlic, minced white pepper, black bean sauceer, black bean sauce& sesame seed oil& sesame seed oil

Pork DumplingsPork Dumplings• Shiu MaiShiu Mai• sesame oilsesame oilminced mustard cabbminced mustard cabbage fresh shiitake muage fresh shiitake mushrooms, finely diced shrooms, finely diced water chestnuts, water chestnuts, minced ginger, scalliominced ginger, scallion, fish sauce, raw scaln, fish sauce, raw scallops, chopped, raw shlops, chopped, raw shrimp, cornstarch, watrimp, cornstarch, water, wonton wrappers, er, wonton wrappers, roeroe

Deep Fried OctopusDeep Fried Octopus• Yau Yu SoYau Yu So• Oil, salt, octopus Oil, salt, octopus or calamari, flouor calamari, flour, starch, white pr, starch, white pepperepper

Egg Custard TartsEgg Custard Tarts• Dan TatDan Tat• Butter, Lard, Egg, Butter, Lard, Egg,

Sugar, Sifted all Sugar, Sifted all purpose flour. purpose flour.

• Egg Custard Egg Custard Filling: Whole Filling: Whole extra large eggs extra large eggs yolks, Whole yolks, Whole milk, sugar milk, sugar

Curry OctopusCurry Octopus• Ga Lei Mut YuGa Lei Mut Yu• Curry powder, Curry powder, sesame oil, salt,sesame oil, salt, chilli pepper, s chilli pepper, starch, octopus, tarch, octopus, soya sauce, wasoya sauce, water ter

Beef BallsBeef Balls• Ow YokOw Yok• Beef, flour, starcBeef, flour, starch, baking soda, gh, baking soda, green peas, green reen peas, green onions, salt, watonions, salt, water, sesame oil, ser, sesame oil, soya sauceoya sauce

Deep Fried BeancurdDeep Fried Beancurd• Ja Dou FuJa Dou Fu• Tofu, salt, starch, Tofu, salt, starch, flour, baking sodflour, baking soda, oil, fish cake,a, oil, fish cake,

Beef TripeBeef Tripe• Ow Pa YeepOw Pa Yeep• Beef tripe, gingBeef tripe, ginger, green onion,er, green onion, oil, salt, sesam oil, salt, sesame oil, minced ge oil, minced garlicarlic

Shrimp Rice RollsShrimp Rice Rolls• Seen Ha Cheung FSeen Ha Cheung Funun• basic rice noodle dbasic rice noodle dough, shrimp, finelough, shrimp, finely minced green oniy minced green onion; Chinese parsleon; Chinese parsley (cilentro), soya sy (cilentro), soya sauce, oilauce, oil