The Chinese New Year is celebrated today – it’s the year of the monkey – and we can’t think of a better excuse to eat lots and lots of Chinese food.

You can book Chinese restaurants in Glasgow and Edinburgh through 5pm Dining. You might also want to look at this Big Deal on a Chinese banquet for two or four at Chop Chop in Glasgow.

Just to get you in the mood, we’ve put together a little dim sum etiquette guide with the help of the Royal China Group of restaurants in London.

What to do

Do eat each dim sum dumpling in one go to get the full flavour of the components in your mouth. It is also less messy.

Do drink tea with dim sum and never order other hot drinks such as coffee as it can overpower the taste of the dim sum.

Tea is the most important factor when eating dim sum, and we recommend ordering Jasmine or Chrysanthemum tea.  It is best to drink the tea with fried or baked dim sum to wash it down and cleanse the digestion system of the oils.

Always pour tea for others before your own as this is the tradition in China.

Do tap your index finger on the table to thank the person pouring the tea. This is a recognised symbol of ‘bowing’ in China and was invented by an emperor.

Do order a lot of different dishes and share between the table for a variety of flavours. When eating dim sum, order rice as it is a good way to cleanse your palate.

What not to do

Don’t use your own chopsticks to serve yourself from the communal bowls.

Don’t save dessert until last. It is acceptable to request a dessert dish in the middle of the meal such as egg custard tarts. As the tea freshens your palate diners can mix sweet and savoury dishes.

Don’t eat dim sum cold, it needs to be eaten hot. It should not be left to cool and it should be eaten within fifteen minutes of being served. Start with fried dim sum then steamed as the fried dim sum cools quicker.