Mumbai, Grab Your Chopsticks! Yauatcha’s Dragon Boat Festival Is Here

Of all the international cuisines India has familirised itself with over the years, the most beloved of all comes from our Northern neighbours in China. Now whether it’s a five-star restaurant or a roadside stall, you can find some version of ‘Chinese’ food in every nook and cranny, but to truly experience it in its most authentic form takes a little more consideration. If you’re looking for the perfect Mumbai spot to sample some culture with your meal, look no further than Yauatcha, the dim sum teahouse from London that is dedicating the month to a celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival.

This festival, known in China as Duanwu has been observed for over 2,000 years in honour of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), an ancient Chinese patriotic poet. Traditionally it’s a celebration with food, drinks, laughter and of course Dragon Boat races. Head chef, Wang Yixuan of Yauatcha is bringing a slice of that experience to the city with an exclusive menu or traditional and contemporary versions of the festival’s most iconic dishes.

An absolute must-try are the zongzi, pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumplings which are a staple of the Dragon Boat festival. Some other unique additions are the braised chicken claypot with mushroom, wild prawn curry with almond and chestnuts and the pork belly sticky rice in lotus leaves. Round out your meal with the Mango and wine soaked water chestnut cake with Sauvignon sorbet.

This celebration of authentic tradition should be on the to-do list of the city’s gourmands, especially those who want a better understanding of what Chinese food is supposed to taste like. Chef Yixuan has poured all his creativity into the menu and created an all-encompassing experience, as he says “The menu has been prepared to accentuate all senses - from visual to taste to fragrance.” So this month, instead of ordering hakka noodles and orange chicken and calling it Chinese, head out to Yauatcha to get a taste of what you’ve been missing.

The exclusive Dragon Boat Festival menu will be available at Yauatcha between May 26 and June 26 for all day dining.