

This is a common signal to waiters that you need a refill.

Pot running low on water? Take the lid off and rest it on top or on the side of the teapot. If you want to follow traditional etiquette, the person closest to the teapot should pour tea for guests first before pouring his or her own cup. How do you order dim sum? First, pick a tea, as it will be a central part of the meal - dim sum did originate in tea houses after all. But by and large, the culinary form remains the same as ever. Nowadays, dim sum can include dishes and traditions adopted from other parts of China. As they continued to travel, the practice continued to spread and gained popularity throughout the region, especially in Hong Kong. Silk Road travelers and traders would take breaks in tea houses for a dim sum meal. According to food magazine Lucky Peach, Cantonese dim sum culture began in tearooms in the latter half of the 19th century in the port city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, after opium dens were banned throughout the country. Nowadays, dim sum is eaten all over China and the world, but the dishes are believed to have originated in the southern China’s Guangdong region before eventually making their way to Hong Kong.

Typically dim sum is consumed during brunch hours - late morning to lunchtime. Similar to the way that the Spanish eat tapas, the dishes are shared among family and friends.
