Cantonese Morning Tea:Cantonese morning tea is a general term for breakfast snacks in Guangdong Province. It is an extremely distinctive food culture that is widely popular in Lingnan region and is famous at home and abroad. (Note: Guangdong is abbreviated as “Yue”).
1. Morning Tea Culture
The plan for a year lies in spring, and the plan for a day lies in the morning. Speaking of the morning happiness of Cantonese people, it must be morning tea. It not only fills the stomach but also serves as a place for gathering information within one’s circle.
The history of Cantonese people “drinking morning tea”
According to legend, during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods of the Qing Dynasty, morning tea shops were similar to street stalls and were called “two cent restaurants.” Cent refers to the price. They provided tea and three or two pastries for passersby to rest and chat. Tea was the main focus and pastries were supplementary. There was a sign with the words “tea talk” hanging at the door. Although the conditions were slightly simple, there were an endless stream of customers. This was the embryonic form of teahouses.
It is said that at that time, “two cent restaurants” in Guangdong were all over the streets and alleys. There was also a folk song that went like this: “Go to a two cent restaurant to have a cup of tea. Two cents for tea doesn’t cost much. All kinds of cakes are delicious and cheap. They are the best for filling the stomach without any falsehood.”
According to legend, during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods of the Qing Dynasty, morning tea shops were similar to street stalls and were called “two cent restaurants.” Cent refers to the price. They provided tea and three or two pastries for passersby to rest and chat. Tea was the main focus and pastries were supplementary. There was a sign with the words “tea talk” hanging at the door. Although the conditions were slightly simple, there were an endless stream of customers. This was the embryonic form of teahouses.
It is said that at that time, “two cent restaurants” in Guangdong were all over the streets and alleys. There was also a folk song that went like this: “Go to a two cent restaurant to have a cup of tea. Two cents for tea doesn’t cost much. All kinds of cakes are delicious and cheap. They are the best for filling the stomach without any falsehood.”
During the Guangxu period, with the integration of foreign business culture, some relatively high-end “teahouses” began to appear gradually. Some moved from street stalls into Xiguan mansions (traditional dwellings rich in Lingnan characteristics built in the Liwan area of Guangzhou). Some restaurants began to operate tea breaks in the form of “two cent restaurants” and were called “teahouses.”
Since then, the custom of drinking tea has become popular in Guangdong. The facades of teahouses are elaborately decorated, the interiors are elegantly arranged, and the variety of tea pastries has become increasingly abundant, eventually giving rise to the custom of Cantonese people “drinking morning tea.”
Since then, the custom of drinking tea has become popular in Guangdong. The facades of teahouses are elaborately decorated, the interiors are elegantly arranged, and the variety of tea pastries has become increasingly abundant, eventually giving rise to the custom of Cantonese people “drinking morning tea.”
Cantonese people’s love for “drinking morning tea” is not only because there are abundant pastries to eat, but also because Cantonese people pursue a life view of moderation and contentment.
On weekends, Cantonese people who don’t have to go to work get up and wash in the morning, go out, “occupy a seat” in a teahouse, and then order a pot of tea and a few pastries. Chatting with friends and chatting with relatives not only allows them to take a break in their busy days but also helps maintain family affection and enhance the relationship with family and friends. They fill their stomachs and also gain spiritual satisfaction.
On weekends, Cantonese people who don’t have to go to work get up and wash in the morning, go out, “occupy a seat” in a teahouse, and then order a pot of tea and a few pastries. Chatting with friends and chatting with relatives not only allows them to take a break in their busy days but also helps maintain family affection and enhance the relationship with family and friends. They fill their stomachs and also gain spiritual satisfaction.
2. Morning Tea Etiquette (Washing Tableware)
In Guangdong, washing tableware with boiling water before drinking tea has become a consensus among all. Just like Christians pray and thank God for giving them food before each meal, washing bowls before each meal for Cantonese people has also become a sacred and inviolable ritual.
3. Morning Tea Etiquette (Knocking Finger Ceremony)
For Cantonese people, the action of “knocking on the table” is as important as “washing tableware with tea water before a meal”. This action is also called the “knocking finger ceremony”.
According to legend, when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty went down to Jiangnan, he took several ministers and went incognito to rest in a teahouse. Emperor Qianlong poured tea for his subordinates in the teahouse. The subordinate originally wanted to express gratitude with three kneelings and nine prostrations, but was afraid of revealing the emperor’s identity and it was inconvenient to return with court etiquette. So he came up with a plan to use “knocking hands” instead of “knocking heads”. Three bent fingers represent “three kneelings” and gently knocking nine times is “nine prostrations”. The three ways of the knocking finger ceremony. Later, after being passed down several times, it evolved into the tea drinking etiquette of Cantonese people who love drinking tea, that is, the knocking finger ceremony on the dining table of Cantonese people.
4. What to Eat for Morning Tea
In addition to a pot of “good tea”, there are various pastries. And the ones that can best represent Cantonese pastries are the “Four Heavenly Kings” of pastries. That is, steamed spareribs, steamed chicken feet, shrimp dumplings, and siu mai.
- Garlic Steamed Spareribs
Garlic Steamed Spareribs
The meat is tender and not tough. The original and natural meat flavor is mellow and fresh with plenty of juice. After being steamed in the original flavor by a unique method, having a few cages is not excessive!
- Steamed Chicken Feet in Black Bean Sauce
Steamed Chicken Feet in Black Bean Sauce
The steamed chicken feet in black bean sauce are red, fragrant, soft and tender. They come off the bone with one suck. Coupled with the rich flavor of various sauces, the fragrance lingers in the mouth. You can’t help but eat one after another!
- Shrimp Dumplings
Shrimp Dumplings
The skin is thin and the filling is fresh and translucent. The thin dumpling skin wraps soup. Every bite is like having high soup, and the delicious shrimp instantly conquers the taste buds.
- Steamed Shrimp Siu Mai King
Steamed Shrimp Siu Mai King
The outer skin is very thin and wraps full of fresh meat filling. When you bite down, it is smooth and delicate with toughness and will even squirt juice. It is delicious and not greasy.
More tea pastries:
There are over a hundred kinds of tea pastries to choose from, making Cantonese tea pastries even more colorful. Tea pastries are divided into dry and wet types. Dry pastries include dumplings, steamed dumplings with glutinous rice flour, steamed buns, pastries, etc. Wet pastries include porridge, meat dishes, herbal jelly, tofu pudding, etc.
