🧺 Why do restaurants use bamboo steamers for dim sum? The soul of Hong Kong tea culture

Every time I go to a restaurant for yum cha, what I look forward to most isn't just the shrimp dumplings and siu mai, but the sight of the dim sum carts with steaming bamboo steamers . 😍 The aroma of bamboo mixed with the sweetness of dim sum is truly blissful! But the question is: why do people still insist on using traditional bamboo steamers instead of metal trays or plastic boxes? There are a variety of reasons behind this, including cultural, practical, and aesthetic reasons.

📜 The origin of restaurant dim sum and bamboo steamers

1. The Origin of Tea Drinking Culture

• The Cantonese have a long-standing custom of pairing a pot of tea with two dim sum dishes.
• By the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, restaurant culture emerged, the variety of dim sum increased, and bamboo steamers gradually became the standard utensil.

2. History of Bamboo Steamers

• Bamboo steamers originated in southern China and have been recorded as early as the Song Dynasty.
• Guangdong is rich in bamboo, which is easy to obtain, breathable and heat-resistant, making it most suitable for steaming food.

🧪 Why do we use bamboo steamers for dim sum?

1. Keep water vapor circulating

• The bamboo steamer is highly breathable, allowing the steam to evenly penetrate the dim sum.
• The steamed shrimp dumplings are crystal clear and the siu mai are soft and juicy, the effect is far better than that of metal plates.

2. Water absorption and drip prevention

• Metal steamers easily form condensation, which can cause the skin of the dim sum to become sore.
• The bamboo steamer absorbs excess moisture and keeps the dim sum fresh.

3. With natural bamboo fragrance

• During the steaming process, the bamboo will emit a light fragrance.
• The dim sum absorbs the fragrance of bamboo, adding layers of flavor, which is the soul of "dim sum".

4. Easy to stack cages

• The dim sum in restaurants is large, and the bamboo steamers are designed to be round with smooth edges so that they can be stacked one on top of the other.
• The kitchen steams dozens of baskets of steamed food and takes them out at the same time, and the waiters push carts to deliver them. It looks good and is efficient.

5. Beauty and traditional feeling

• The stacked bamboo steamers are visually appetizing.
• The bamboo steamer symbolizes traditional craftsmanship and nostalgia, and is an integral part of tea drinking culture.

🌟 Bamboo steamer is the perfect match for dim sum

1. Shrimp dumplings

The bamboo steamer can keep the shrimp dumpling skin crystal clear and smooth when eaten.

2. Siu Mai

Keep the meat filling fresh and tender, and it will not become mushy due to condensation.

3. Chicken feet and spare ribs 🍖

Steam until the flavor is absorbed and the oil seeps into the bamboo bottom, exuding fragrance.

4. Rice noodle rolls, glutinous rice and chicken 🍚

The breathable bamboo steamer prevents the rice noodle rolls from sticking to the bottom, and enhances the aroma of the glutinous rice and chicken.

🍽️ Why has the bamboo steamer become a classic?

1. Suitable for Cantonese people

Cantonese people value the "original flavor" of dim sum, and bamboo steamers can preserve the freshness of dim sum while preventing it from becoming too steamy.

2. Restaurant culture needs

Restaurants serve a large amount of food, and bamboo steamers can steam food on a large scale at the same time with high efficiency.

3. Symbolizes collective memory

The bamboo steamer has become a symbol of "Yum Cha". When you see a bamboo steamer, you will think of the bustling scene of a restaurant.

🍤 Modern Variations

• Stainless steel steamer : Some modern restaurants have begun to use metal steamers, which are durable and easy to clean, but lack the fragrance of bamboo.
• Mini bamboo cage : Fine-dining restaurants use small bamboo cages to serve, which makes it more refined.
• Takeaway version : Some tea restaurants use paper or plastic boxes instead, but the taste is far inferior to the dine-in bamboo baskets.

💡 Editor's Summary

The use of bamboo steamers for dim sum in restaurants is definitely not just a simple "habit" but a combination of practicality, deliciousness and culture :

• Bamboo steamer maintains steam circulation, making the pastry skin thin and the filling tender
• Can absorb water and prevent dripping, avoiding the taste becoming tender
• Dispenses natural bamboo fragrance for added flavor
• The cages are easy to stack to meet the large-scale food delivery needs of restaurants.
• Symbolizes traditional tea drinking culture and is full of ritual

For me, a bamboo steamer is like the soul of tea. Without it, shrimp dumplings and siu mai lack that authentic flavor.

👉 Next time you go to yum cha, remember to open the bamboo steamer and take a sniff. The aroma of bamboo mixed with the fragrance of dim sum is the most charming flavor of Hong Kong-style yum cha 🧺🫖🥟.