Have breakfast like the Cantonese.

In total, there are around 100 different dishes, mainly made from rice flour, wheat flour, etc., and various meat and seafood fillings, steamed in bamboo steamers, but the important thing is to enjoy them with tea.

The development of dim sum, becoming a beautiful aspect of Chinese cuisine as it is today, cannot be attributed solely to the contributions of the Cantonese people. Cantonese-style dim sum is more distinctive and elaborate than those from other provinces in China. They are visually appealing, delicious, and have a light flavor due to the minimal use of spices. Beyond simply changing the fillings, the Cantonese also introduced the art of food presentation and decoration, giving dim sum a completely new look. For example, while dim sum in northern China is primarily made with wheat flour, in Guangdong, rice flour and local vegetables are added to create delicious dim sum.

But no matter how varied and creatively they may be, Cantonese dim sum dishes all originate from humble beginnings, such as the "Scholar's Congee."

"Once upon a time, there was a student who went to take an exam. When he returned home hungry, he went into the kitchen and found nothing left to eat except a little plain rice porridge and some leftover food, including a few roasted peanuts. So he poured everything into the bowl of porridge to eat to relieve his hunger. On the day the exam results came out, he passed with flying colors and became the top scholar. People spread the word that it was thanks to eating that mixed porridge that he passed so well, so from then on they called it 'Scholar's Porridge,' a very popular breakfast dish that still exists today."

One unique aspect of breakfast is that you can eat many dishes without feeling full, and you can enjoy them leisurely without getting bored thanks to the tea.

Cantonese families have a habit of meeting at restaurants for breakfast and chatting over tea. Most restaurants here offer a wide variety of breakfast dishes. Having breakfast and tea is an indispensable part of life, especially for the elderly. They see it as a pastime, a way to spend their time. "Older people can meet to drink tea and read the newspaper all morning, or even all afternoon." There's a saying in Cantonese.One cup of tea and two snacks are enough for an elderly person to get through the day.

A traditional dim sum meal includes various types of dumplings such as steamed pork buns, rice or wheat buns, and rice noodles, containing a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, and vegetarian options. Many dim sum restaurants also offer steamed greens, grilled meats, porridge, and other soups. Desserts are also available, and many places even offer egg tarts as an accompaniment. Dim sum is often eaten as breakfast or brunch.

Breakfast dishes can be prepared by steaming and frying, among other methods. They are often served in small steamers, each containing three or four pieces. It is an ancient Chinese custom for those seated at the table to share the dishes, with everyone able to try a piece of each.

Huong Thao