The delicious history of dim sum

Chapter 1

Silk Road stops and tea ceremonies

Chapter 2

The art of touching the heart

Chapter 3

Anatomy of the bamboo basket

Chapter 4

The bustling theater of the dining hall

Ch 4 · The bustling theater of the dining hall
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sonia The choreography of the metal cart

Sep 13

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Quiz

What are the typical size categories printed on a traditional dim sum order card?

Sep 13

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Quiz

What does tapping two fingers on the table during a dim sum meal signify?

Sep 13

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Little Steamers
BETA

sonia Stack the bamboo steamers to discover the Silk Road origins of yum cha.

Sep 13

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sonia The secret sign of the tapping fingers

Sep 13

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The secret sign of the tapping fingers

sonia Tapping two fingers on the table is a silent gesture of gratitude for poured tea.

Sep 13

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Quiz

How do servers traditionally transport steaming baskets to tables in classic dim sum dining halls?

Sep 13

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Quiz

How does a traditional dim sum restaurant track what a table has ordered from the passing carts?

Sep 13

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sonia The Dim Sum Dining Hall

Just tap your fingers on the table to thank me for the tea!

Sep 13

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sonia The etiquette of the shared teapot

Sep 13

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The etiquette of the shared teapot

sonia Specific rules govern how tea is served and when to ask for a refill.

Sep 13

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Quiz

How do diners traditionally signal to the server that their teapot needs a water refill?

Sep 13

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Quiz

Which fingers are commonly used to perform the silent table-tapping thank-you gesture?

Sep 13

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Fun Fact

Tapping fingers: The finger-tapping thank-you gesture mimics a full kowtow, representing bent knees and a bowing head.

Sep 13

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sonia The card that tracks the feast

Sep 13

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Quiz

What is the polite custom when serving tea at a shared dim sum table?

Sep 13

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Quiz

According to Chinese legend, which historical figure started the tradition of finger-tapping to say thank you?

Sep 13

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Glossary
trolley (noun)
A wheeled cart used for transporting and serving food or beverages. Servers wheel these steaming metal carts through crowded banquet halls, delivering fresh dishes directly to diners' tables.

Sep 13

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Gossip

Carts or menu ordering: which is better?

Sep 13