When you visit your local Sydney yum cha spot, how do you decide which dishes to order? Do you choose your all-time faves? Or do you perhaps select the most popular ones? Have you ever considered choosing ones that have significant meaning behind them? Due to China’s long history, a lot of Chinese food is loaded with symbols for prosperity, longevity, and good health, among other things. Here are a few mouth-watering and meaningful dishes at our Chatswood restaurant.

1. Jasmine Tea

Jasmine tea is undoubtedly one of the most popular tea choices at Sydney yum cha restaurants. This classic is the Chinese equivalent to the British earl grey tea, in terms of how aromatic it is. Jasmine tea is a blend of green tea leaves and jasmine flowers, which allows it to be mellowly sweet, yet also wonderfully fragrant. These characteristics make it the perfect accompaniment to any mildly sweet Cantonese desserts at yum cha, such as white sugar sponge cake.

2. Tie Guan Yin

Literally translating into ‘Iron Buddha’ in English, this tea is one of the most popular oolong varieties in China. It has a velvety texture and a much stronger taste than jasmine tea, however this can work to your benefit. If your favourite Sydney yum cha dishes are spring rolls, deep fried wontons, or fried squid, then Tie Kuan Yin will pair with them magically, as it is highly effective at cutting away grease.

3. Chrysanthemum Pu-erh

This little-known blend of two of the most popular yum cha teas is texturally smooth and floral to the smell. Much like chamomile tea, chrysanthemum has a mild taste, but is said to have a number of health benefits, including reducing inflammation and being a source of vitamins A and C. Pu-erh is a unique Chinese tea, as its production involves fermenting the leaves. This means that it can introduce healthy gut bacteria into your body when sipped. These healthy properties of the chrysanthemum pu-erh blend make it a wonderful accompaniment for heavier dishes, such as Cantonese roast duck.