Editing Yum cha (section)

==Customs and etiquette==
[[Image:Yumcha finger tapping.jpg|thumb|250px|A tea-drinker tapping the table with her fingers to show gratitude to the member of the party who has filled her cup]]
The customs associated with the tea served at ''yum cha'' include'':'' 

* Selecting the type of tea to be served immediately after being seated by the server.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Serious Eats Guide to Dim Sum|url=https://www.seriouseats.com/2011/04/guide-to-dim-sum-dumplings-siu-mai-bao-chinese-steamed-buns.html|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.seriouseats.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Entertaining 20092">{{Cite book|date=2009-04-01|title=Entertaining from ancient Rome to the Super Bowl: an encyclopedia}}</ref>
* Pouring tea for others before filling one's own tea cup, especially for the young ones serving tea to the elderly first, as a sign of politeness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Chiang|first=Karen|title=The yum cha rules you need to know|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190227-the-yum-cha-rules-you-need-to-know|access-date=2020-08-05|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref>
* Filling tea cups to about 80% because of the Cantonese proverb 「{{lang|zh-hant|茶滿欺客，酒滿敬人}}」,<ref>{{cite news|last1=邹|first1=全荣|title="酒满敬客 茶满欺人" 茶桌上倒茶礼仪你知道吗|publisher=幸禠|agency=中国网|url=http://www.china.com.cn/travel/txt/2014-11/19/content_34091698.htm}}</ref> which is translated literally as "it is fraud for the guest if the tea cup is full, but it is a sign of respect when it is alcohol."
* Tapping the table with two (occasionally one) fingers of the same hand in a gesture known as 'finger [[kowtow]]' that is a gesture of gratitude after receiving tea.<ref name=":0" /> This gesture can be traced to the [[Qianlong Emperor]] of the [[Qing dynasty]], who used to travel incognito.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-10|title=Hong Kong's Symbolic Tea Etiquette|url=https://www.theloophk.com/hong-kong-city-culture-guide-history-tea-etiquette/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=The Loop HK|language=en-US}}</ref> While visiting the [[Jiangnan]] region, he once went into a teahouse with his companions. In order to maintain his anonymity, he took his turn at pouring tea. His companions wanted to bow to show their gratitude, but to do so would have revealed the identity of the emperor.<ref name="Cantonese Cuisine Guide" /> Finally, one of them tapped three fingers on the table (one finger representing their bowed head and the other two representing their prostrate arms).
* Flipping open the lid (of hinged metal tea pots) or offset the tea pot cover (on ceramic tea pots) to signal an empty tea pot.<ref name="Dim Sum Guide"/> Servers will then refill the pot.<ref name="Chiang 2019">{{Cite web|last=Chiang|first=Karen|title=The yum cha rules you need to know|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190227-the-yum-cha-rules-you-need-to-know|access-date=2020-07-03|website=[[BBC]]|language=en}}</ref>
* Following a traditional practice of washing the utensils with the first round of tea, tea is best served in hot cup to restore the temperature.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Gao|first=Sally|title=6 Things You Should Know Before Eating Dim Sum In Hong Kong|url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/six-things-you-should-know-when-eating-dim-sum-in-hong-kong/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Culture Trip|date=22 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rituals of Dim Sum|url=https://www.hkfoodcrawlers.com/blog/2018/7/25/the-rituals-of-dim-sum|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Hong Kong Food Crawlers|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Insiders|first=CityUnscripted and all the City|title=How to eat dim sum like a local in Hong Kong|url=https://www.cityunscripted.com/travel-magazine/how-to-eat-dim-sum-like-a-local|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.cityunscripted.com|language=en}}</ref>  A basin is available for disposing of the rinse tea.  The taste of the first round of tea is considered not the finest yet, and will be richer afterwards.<ref>China Times(15 December 2014). "[https://tube.chinatimes.com/20141215004427-261402 香港「飲茶禮儀」 先熱茶先洗碗洗筷子] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322015008/https://tube.chinatimes.com/20141215004427-261402 |date=2019-03-22 }}" [Video file]. Retrieved from https://tube.chinatimes.com/20141215004427-261402 </ref>

For the diners, some typical customs include:

* Selecting the tables closest to the kitchen because the ''dim sum'' carts exit from there and the diners closest to the kitchen have first choice of the fresh dishes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to be a yum cha master|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/01/29/how-be-yum-cha-master|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Food|date=29 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* Ordering dessert dishes on the ''dim sum'' carts at any time since there is not a set sequence for the meal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dim Sum Etiquette - Chinese/Lunar New Year {{!}} Epicurious.com|url=https://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/lunarnewyear/dim-sum|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Epicurious|date=5 January 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
* Feeling comfortable with declining dishes being offered by servers pushing the ''dim sum'' carts, regardless of the reasons (dietary, food preference, budgetary, or other reasons).<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=How to be a yum cha master|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/01/29/how-be-yum-cha-master|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Food|date=29 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:HK TKL 調景嶺 Tiu Keng Leng 都會駅 MetroTown Shopping mall shop 豪宴海鮮集團酒家 Ho Yin Seafood Group Restaurant Lunch 點心小食 dim sum 飲茶 tea food April 2019 SSG 06.jpg|thumb|Lazy susan at ''yum cha'' lunch in Hong Kong with ''dim sum'' and lunch dishes]]

While eating, some of the manners include:

* Spinning the [[Lazy Susan|lazy susan]] such that the oldest person at the table has the opportunity to have the first serving when the meal starts or when an additional dish is served, to show respect.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Daniel A. Gross|title=The Lazy Susan, the Classic Centerpiece of Chinese Restaurants, Is Neither Classic nor Chinese|language=en|work=Smithsonian Magazine|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/lazy-susan-classic-centerpiece-chinese-restaurants-neither-classic-nor-chinese-180949844/|access-date=2020-07-06}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Insiders|first=CityUnscripted and all the City|title=How to eat dim sum like a local in Hong Kong|url=https://www.cityunscripted.com/travel-magazine/how-to-eat-dim-sum-like-a-local|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.cityunscripted.com|language=en}}</ref>  The lazy susan should not be spun when someone is taking food from a dish.<ref name=":5" />
* Refraining from standing chopsticks straight up vertically, such as in rice or buns, due to the resemblance of incense offerings for the deceased.<ref name=":7" />
* Offering dining companions the final serving when there is one last piece or final serving remaining on a dish.<ref name=":7" />
* Insisting on paying the bill as it is common to treat one another to meals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defending Your Honor: How to Fight for a Bill in China|url=https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2012/02/the-etiquette-of-fighting-for-a-bill/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=The World of Chinese|archive-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108094039/http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2012/02/the-etiquette-of-fighting-for-a-bill/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In the case when there is no lazy Susan, only pick up the food which is in front of you.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Lin Heung Kui - Must Try Dim Sum in Hong Kong.webm|thumb|A video showing yum cha at [[Lin Heung Tea House|Lin Heung Teahouse]]]]