A new rule in Guangzhou mandates teahouses to declare if their dim sum is freshly handmade, sparking a discussion about culinary transparency and heritage foods in the region.

A new rule in Guangzhou requiring teahouses to declare whether their traditional dim sum is freshly handmade has sparked debate and calls for transparency over how similar meals are made in Hong Kong. Guangzhou authorities on Wednesday released the new regulation on morning tea heritage protection, effective on May 1, which mandates that operators must explicitly indicate whether their dim sum dishes are made using traditional on-site methods or through non-traditional means. The mainland...