Lingnan Cuisine · Traditional Customs

Guangdong Morning Tea Culture

Throughout Guangdong Province, represented by Guangzhou, Foshan, Hong Kong, and Macau

Every morning until noon, especially grand during festivals

Originated in the Qing Dynasty, flourished during the Republic of China era, continuing to this day

Abundant Guangdong Morning Tea Scene

An array of dim sum and tea on a Guangdong morning tea table, showcasing the refinement and richness of Lingnan culinary culture

Guangdong morning tea, also known as "drinking morning tea" or "enjoying tea" ("enjoying" in Cantonese means savoring), is a unique dietary cultural custom in the Lingnan region. It is not only a dietary habit but also an important part of Cantonese socializing, leisure, and lifestyle, reflecting the culinary philosophy of "never tires of refinement" and the relaxed attitude toward life in Lingnan culture.

Historical Origins of Morning Tea

The origins of Guangdong morning tea can be traced back to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. It initially emerged as a social activity among merchants at the Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou during business negotiations. At that time, "Yili Guan" (One-Cent Houses) provided simple tea and snacks for traveling merchants to rest and discuss business. By the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods, they gradually developed into formal tea houses and later evolved into modern tea restaurants.

During the Republic of China era, Guangdong morning tea culture reached its peak, with the emergence of many famous tea houses, such as "Lian Xiang Lou" and "Tao Tao Ju" in Guangzhou. During this period, morning tea evolved from a simple dining activity to a comprehensive social culture and became an indispensable part of Cantonese life.

"One pot, two items, a joy of life."

—— Cantonese folk saying, describing the pleasant life of enjoying one pot of tea with two dim sum items during morning tea

Core Elements of Morning Tea

Guangdong morning tea consists of three core elements: tea selection, dim sum, and etiquette, which work together to create a unique dining cultural experience:

Tea Selection

Pu'er: The most classic choice, aids digestion and cuts greasiness, perfect with rich dim sum
Tie Guan Yin: Rich aroma, ideal with seafood dim sum
Shui Xian: Rich and sweet aftertaste, a traditional choice for local Cantonese
Chrysanthemum Tea: Cools and relieves heat, often chosen in summer
Jasmine Tea: Fresh fragrance, loved by women

Dim Sum Categories

Dry Pastries: Crispy pastries like egg tarts, wife cakes
Wet Dim Sum: Steamed dim sum like shrimp dumplings, siu mai
Bamboo Steamer Items: Various buns like barbecued pork buns, salted egg yolk buns
Congee, Noodles, and Rice Noodles: Boat congee, wonton noodles, etc.
Side Dishes: Cantonese-style braised dishes like soy sauce chicken, roast goose

Introduction to Classic Cantonese Dim Sum

Guangdong morning tea offers a wide variety of dim sum, exquisitely made, each with its unique flavor and preparation techniques:

Shrimp Dumplings

Shrimp Dumplings

The first among the "Four Heavenly Kings" of morning tea, translucent wrappers encasing fresh shrimp, crystal clear, tender and bouncy

Siu Mai

Siu Mai

Thin wrappers encasing pork or shrimp, topped with crab roe or fish roe, savory and juicy

Barbecued Pork Buns

Barbecued Pork Buns

Soft dough encasing sweet and savory barbecued pork filling, with balanced flavors and rich aroma

Besides the "Four Heavenly Kings" (shrimp dumplings, siu mai, barbecued pork buns, and egg tarts), there are many other classic dim sum items in Guangdong morning tea, such as rice rolls, boat congee, chicken feet, spare ribs, turnip cake, water chestnut cake, etc. Each item embodies the characteristics of Cantonese dim sum: "exquisite, beautiful, innovative, and skillful."

Etiquette and Cultural Connotations of Morning Tea

Guangdong morning tea has rich etiquette norms and cultural connotations, reflecting the social wisdom and philosophy of life of the Lingnan people:

Etiquette Behavior	Meaning and Customs
Finger Tapping Ceremony	When someone pours tea for you, gently tap the table with curved fingers to show gratitude, instead of standing up to bow
Rotating Table	Rotate the lazy Susan gently; pause when others are serving themselves, demonstrating the virtue of modesty
Ordering Tea	Elders or hosts order tea first, showing respect; order just enough to avoid waste
Seating	The seat facing the door is the seat of honor, reserved for elders or distinguished guests; avoid randomly flipping through the menu when seated
Conversation	Speak at a moderate volume, discuss light topics, avoid arguments, embodying the social principle of "harmony is precious"

Guangdong Morning Tea Social Scene

Morning tea is not just a culinary experience but also an important social activity for Cantonese people, where family and friends gather to chat

Morning Tea Characteristics Across Guangdong

Morning tea culture varies across different regions in Guangdong Province, forming diverse morning tea styles:

Guangzhou: Most traditional and authentic, emphasizes the pairing of tea and dim sum, with many old tea houses such as Tao Tao Ju, Lian Xiang Lou, and Guangzhou Restaurant
Hong Kong: Fusion of Chinese and Western elements, exquisite and innovative dim sum, "tea drinking culture" closely integrated with modern life
Shunde: Emphasizes the natural flavor of ingredients, exquisite dim sum preparation techniques, known as "Food in Guangzhou, Taste in Shunde"
Chaoshan: Combined with kung fu tea, tea snacks are more delicate and small, focusing on tea quality
Macau: Influenced by Portuguese cuisine, featuring innovative dim sum such as bacalhau egg tarts and other special varieties

Modern Development of Morning Tea Culture

With the changes of the times, Guangdong morning tea culture continues to develop and innovate, adapting to modern life rhythms:

Traditional tea houses have gradually combined with modern catering models, giving rise to "cha chaan teng" (tea restaurants), a faster-paced form of morning tea. At the same time, morning tea hours have become more flexible, extending from early morning to afternoon, and even "night tea" has appeared to meet the needs of different groups of people.

While preserving traditional essences, modern morning tea has also absorbed characteristics from various cuisines, creating more new varieties. Morning tea culture has also become an important tourism resource in Guangdong, attracting tourists from around the world to experience this unique dietary culture.

Suggestions for Experiencing Guangdong Morning Tea

For tourists experiencing Guangdong morning tea for the first time, the following suggestions can help you better appreciate this culture:

                            Try to get up early; traditional morning tea starts from 6-7 AM, when you can experience the most authentic atmosphere
For your first try, order the "Four Heavenly Kings" (shrimp dumplings, siu mai, barbecued pork buns, and egg tarts) to experience classic flavors
Learn to use the "finger tapping ceremony" to show gratitude to those who pour tea for you, demonstrating respect for local customs
Choose time-honored tea houses for a traditional experience, and also try new-style tea restaurants to experience innovation
Slow down your pace, enjoy the leisure of "savoring tea," and experience the essence of Cantonese "slow living"

                        

Morning Tea Trivia

Why is it called "One Pot, Two Items"?

"One pot" refers to a pot of tea, and "two items" refers to two plates of dim sum, which is the most classic combination for Guangdong morning tea. This term originated in the Qing Dynasty when tea cost one li (a unit of currency) and dim sum cost two li, gradually evolving into a synonym for morning tea.

What is the origin of the Finger Tapping Ceremony?

Legend has it that during Emperor Qianlong's incognito visits in the Qing Dynasty, he poured tea for his ministers. Since the ministers could not properly bow as they were incognito, they tapped the table with their fingers instead of kneeling, and this etiquette has been passed down in Guangdong morning tea culture as a way to show gratitude.

Why drink Pu'er tea with Guangdong morning tea?

Pu'er tea has a mild nature and has the effect of relieving greasiness and aiding digestion, which can neutralize the oiliness of dim sum. It can also be brewed repeatedly, making it suitable for long morning tea gatherings, thus becoming a classic choice for Guangdong morning tea.