Yum Cha – The unique culinary delights of Hong Kong's elderly.

Young and old alike, Hong Kong residents enjoy Yum Cha, as it's not just a meal, but a unique cultural experience that helps bring families and friends together.

Some basic dim sum dishes in Hong Kong. (Photo: Mac Luyen/VNA)

Yum Cha (meaning "drinking tea" in Cantonese, China) is often associated with enjoying tea accompanied by dim sum (meaning "light meals").

Young and old alike, Hong Kong residents enjoy Yum Cha, as it's not just a meal, but a unique cultural experience that brings families and friends together. Yum Cha was introduced to Hong Kong from Xiguan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, over 200 years ago.

For many senior citizens in Hong Kong, Yum Cha is not simply about enjoying tea and dim sum, but also a way to savor life and engage in social interactions.

They might relax in the morning with the classic "a pot of tea and two kinds of dim sum" while reading the day's newspaper at a slow pace until around 9-10 am or enjoying lunch or dinner. There's a saying, "Three days without Yum Cha means you're not a true Hong Konger."

Mr. Say Chin Yeung, Director of Sun Kong Restaurant, said the restaurant serves from 6 am to 10 pm and its customers are mainly elderly people. Some come for three meals a day, some come alone and have one or two dishes before going to work, and sometimes they come with friends or whole family to share stories or reminisce about old times. Typically, families and friends gather on weekends or holidays to chat and enjoy delicious food.

According to Say Chin Yeung, typically, when relatives or friends invite you to Yum Cha, they probably genuinely want to discuss something with you or need your help. Elders wanting to meet younger generations, or younger generations wanting to meet elders, will often arrange to meet at Yum Cha. Many matters cannot be discussed over the phone but can be resolved after one or two Yum Cha sessions.

Ms. Wang Yingdi, Head of Sales at Sun Kong restaurant, shared that Hong Kong's Yum Cha culture is truly wonderful. In the morning, noon, afternoon, or evening, elderly people gather to drink tea, eat dim sum, and chat about all sorts of things.

Apartments in Hong Kong are small, so people often meet at tea houses to chat and catch up. Sun Kong restaurant is located near many tourist attractions, so it frequently welcomes many foreign tourists, especially from South Korea, who come to Yum Cha and greatly admire this aspect of Hong Kong culture.

Mr. Li Ming-Han, a Hong Kong resident, shared that he and his wife occasionally go to Yum Cha for convenience, sometimes to meet up with friends for a meal and chat. Mr. Han added that Hong Kong's dining culture is clearly reflected in Yum Cha culture; everything from signing contracts and buying houses to sending children to study abroad is discussed and shared at tea houses. Yum Cha is not just a meal, but a unique cultural experience for Hong Kong people.

Even more remarkably, Yum Cha is considered a "Hong Kong specialty" for the elderly; some say that senior citizens in Hong Kong are "fashionable" as they frequent Yum Cha restaurants daily or weekly.

Yum Cha is both economical and light. Diners can order a few appetizers, a plate of stir-fried noodles to share with a few people, or even a whole chicken or steamed fish to treat friends, along with some beer or wine. The restaurant always satisfies its customers. There's a rule everyone should know: if you pay today, I'll pay next time; that's how relationships last.

Hong Kong people often enjoy dim sum with a variety of teas such as chrysanthemum tea, green tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea, and many other fragrant teas. From bamboo steamers to plump dumplings, each dim sum meal is a wonderful time to savor all the exotic treasures that Chinese cuisine has to offer.

Young and old alike, Hong Kong residents enjoy Yum Cha, as it's not just a meal, but a unique cultural experience that helps bring families and friends together.

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