Why is Yum Cha called Dim Sum in UK

Question

In Australia, we have 'Yum Cha' which is an Asian brunch where you pick different types of dumplings and finger foods etc.. from a trolley. In the UK, this same thing is called Dim Sum. Why is there a different word in different countries?

Answer 1

sic dim sum and yum cha is the same phrase pretty much because in both sessions, there is Tea and Dim Sum food involved but just two different ways to say it

Answer 2

In the USA, it's called Dim Sum.

Here's the difference...

If you're Chinese, you call it yum cha.

If you're not, you call it Dim Sum.

Although, yum cha means to "drink tea" it has a larger connotation... to the Chinese it's implies a social event, like "let's go to breakfast"

To the non-Chinese, they don't readily know the connotation of "yum cha" so they relate the food to the event

Both mean the same thing, but it's just depends upon your point of reference...

Answer 3

You eat Dim Sum when you Yum cha (drink tea)

Answer 4

In the US, it is called dim sum, which means snacks in cantonese.  Yum cha means to drink tea or to take tea, both dim sum and yum cha involves tea drinking and a bunch of little finger foods, dumplings, and Chinese delicacies.  Basically, these two terms can be used interchangeably.  

Answer 5

I thought you go to Yum Cha to eat Dim Sims (and other stuff like noodles/rice if you so desire)?

Answer 6

I know, totally. I went over to UK and wanted to try out a new resturant because in Australia we always have Yum Cha. Then we see the food menu and realise Dim Sum is exactly the same!

Answer 7

"yum cha" literally means "drink tea" in Cantonese, in this case it is used as a term for taking tea, as in taking breakfast/lunch/dinner. "dim sum" is Cantonese for snacks, which usually the Chinese eat for tea, commonly piled on trolleys for the people to select from in a restaurant.

Answer 8

But we also say dim sum here. I'm Australian, and familiar with both the terms...Normally they're called dim sums for those steamed or deep fried dumplings. But I also say Yum cha for random stuff. And in America, they have neither of those words. Everythings just called dumplings...  

Answer 9

Dim Sum is the dishes you eat when you are at Yum Cha. Dim Sum is the name in Chinese for those dishes, the two things are different.