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Brief History of Dim Sum
Dim Sum Restaurants
All About Tea
How and What to Order
Customs and Etiquette
Paying the Bill
Index of Dim Sum Dishes

DIM SUM: A Brief History

The unique culinary art of dim sum (Cantonese) or dian xin (Mandarin) means "a little bit of heart" and originated in China hundreds of years ago. It is said to have started along the Silk Road where farmers, laborers and travelers often stopped at roadside teahouses to have afternoon tea, regain sustenance and relax, an olden days version of the local neighborhood bar. In the third century AD, Hua To, a highly respected Imperial physician, advised that eating food while drinking tea would cause excessive weight gain. But the Cantonese in southern China disregarded that advice and turned the quiet and unexciting teahouse into a loud and lively eating experience, which is also how the term "yum cha" (to drink tea) became synonymous with consuming dim sum. Since the 10th century, about 2000 different varieties of dim sum have been created, with up to 100 kinds offered on any given day in the larger restaurants.
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