Side Dishes
Tea (茶cha) snacks (点dian) are desserts used by tea connoisseur in tea-tasting. These are exquisite in appearance, small in size, small in quantity and rich in taste. However Cantonese-style tea snacks focuses on the snacks (点dian) and the tea becomes secondary. Since the snacks becomes a matter of the heart, they are known as dianxin点心or dimsum in Cantonese. Though a snack, Cantonese-style dim sum can be quite filling and can be treated as a staple food.
Dry snacks: steamed buns, shortbread, dumplings, siew mai, etc.
Wet snacks: porridge, meat, Herbal jelly, soya bean curd, etc.
Tea snacks variations:
Steamed Rice Roll
Steamed Rice Roll originated in the Dongguan area of Guangdong and is a famous traditional food in Guangdong. It is made from a mixture of glutinous rice flour and water.
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"Bula" rice rolls - is the more common rice rolls in Guangdong. It is thinner, oilier, and much more smoother than chee cheong fun. The common filling would include char siew and shrimp.
Chee Cheong Fun - a Cantonese cuisine, commonly found in Singapore and Malaysia. Chee Cheong Fun originates from Chee Cheong Fun from Guangdong Shahe Fun and Chencun Fun. Once rolled up, the rice roll looks identical to the pig's intestines and thus named "Chee Cheong Fun" as "Chee Cheong" means pig's intestine in Cantonese. As Chee Cheong Fun does not contain any fillings, it is classified as "Vegetarian Rice Roll". Condiments such as sweet sauce, soy sauce, and chili can be added. As the Chee Cheong Fun is rolled into a long strip, its appearance is thicker than that of the "Bula" chee cheong fun.
Boat Congee
Boat (Tingzai 艇仔) Congee is a famous delicacy in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. Boat Congee is created by Tanka or boat people in the Pearl River Delta. It is also sold on the waterside as well as those who live on small boats. Boat Congee is deeply loved by the people, and spread to all countries. The main ingredients of Boat Congee include lean meat, peanuts, chopped spring onions, squid and so on. The porridge is smooth and sweet.
Shrimp Dumplings
Crystal Shrimp Dumpling (also known as Har Gow) is a dumpling with shrimp as the main filling. Shrimp dumplings are the "big brother" (first brother) of Cantonese snacks, and indispensable when drinking tea (Yum Cha). The shape of traditional shrimp dumplings is half-moon, and the outer skin is crystal clear, allowing the filling to be seen at a glance. In addition to shrimp, the fillings of shrimp dumplings also include pork, asparagus, etc. Shrimp dumplings are refreshing, springy and with the sweetness of prawns.
Siew Mai is the second brother of Cantonese-style snacks. Siew Mai is said to originate from Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty. Dry steamed Siew Mai uses liquid egg, water and noodles as the skin, while the filling includes pork, lean meat, shrimp and shiitake mushrooms. The top is fluffy and folded like a flower, the filling is full, the taste is rich and chewy.
Siew Mai
Char Siew Bao(BBQ pork buns) is one of the most representative and popular traditional delicacies among various Cantonese-style buns. Cantonese-style steamed buns are regarded as a staple food. The fillings of the BBQ pork buns are mainly made by seasoned diced BBQ pork (Char Siew). Other bun variations include custard buns, custard salted yolk buns, and flaky buns.
Fong Jao (Chicken feet)
Chicken feet or Fong Jao, (Fong "phoenix" is a glamorous name for chicken in Cantonese culture) refers to ruddy chicken feet that are fried first, then stewed in Cantonese snacks. Chicken feet have nutritional and beautifying benefits. The chicken feet are ruddy in appearance, fluffy on the outside, and feel like soup when biting. Chicken feet include hot and sour flavours, ginger, onion, soy sauce and other flavours, but the most common and popular is the chicken feet flavoured with soy sauce.
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References
Anonymous (date unknown). refreshments. Baidu Encyclopedia. Online date: January 21, 2022. Checked from: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%8C%B6%E7%82%B9/5986414
Anonymous (date unknown). Chee cheong fun. Baidu Encyclopedia. Online date: January 21, 2022. Checked from: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%8C%AA%E8%82%A0%E7%B2%89/7435932
Anonymous (date unknown). Brassica powder. Baidu Encyclopedia. Online date: January 21, 2022. Checked from: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%B8%83%E6%8B%89%E8%82%A0%E7%B2%89/7449055
It was Xiao Dafa (date unknown). Cantonese-style dry steamed siu mai. Excellent food. Online date: January 21, 2022. Checked from: https://m.meishij.net/html5/zuofa/guangshiganzhengshaomai.html
Anonymous (date unknown). Cantonese morning tea. Baidu Encyclopedia. Online date: February 1. Checked from: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%B2%A4%E5%BC%8F%E6%97%A9%E8%8C%B6/136199