You can’t pick up a guide book on Hong Kong without reading about Dim Sum. Zoe Chan explains why this is such a popular custom for tourists to enjoy.

Fancy some steamed dumplings, shark fin soup or maybe even a few chicken feet to start the day? While some may recede at the thoughts of this, these are very popular Chinese foods and can be seen on the menus of most Dim Sum houses. It is customary for Chinese people to start the day with a cup of Chinese tea and some dumplings or Dim Sum. Eating Dim Sum is the one local custom that you simply must partake in during a visit to Hong Kong. Dim sum includes various types of steamed buns such as dumplings and rice noodle rolls which contain pork, prawns, beef or chicken. There are many vegetarian options too. Plates of steamed green vegetables, congee porridge and a variety of noodles are also found. Having a meal in a Chinese teahouse or a dim sum restaurant is known as yum cha, which translates as "drinking tea", as tea is typically served with dim sum. The items are served in small steamer baskets or on a small plate.

Traditionally, Chinese housewives would serve steamed dumplings as breakfast for their families. This food was said to have been made with great love and care and that is why they are called “Dim-Sum” or literally translated, "from the heart". Dim sum is usually cooked by steaming but frying and other methods are also used. The serving sizes are small and served as three or four pieces in one dish. It is customary to order for the family, so everyone gets to try a wide variety of food, making it a very sociable eating experience.

You won’t have to search too hard to find a dim sum restaurant as they can be found on every side street in the city and if you are not brave enough to try a local one, you can find dim sum restaurants even in five star hotels such as the Peninsula where they do a Chinese breakfast with an English menu. Some of the regular restaurants have menus that you are required to fill in indicating the quantity of each type of Dim Sum you want. If you don’t read or speak Cantonese all is not lost. Many restaurants have carts holding the food that can be pushed around the restaurant so you can pick out what you want.

When you sit down the first step is to order tea. It is customary to pour tea for other guests before pouring your own. Tapping your finger on the table is a traditional Chinese gesture to let the server know that his cup is nearly full and to say thank you. The cost of the meal is calculated based on the number, size, and sometimes color of the dishes left on the customers table.