Li hing mui
Directly translated “li hing mui” means traveling plum and it is no wonder since it is exactly that, a small deeply coloured plum that is cured with salt and then dried, preserving it for travel.
With roots in China, these little salty sweet and sour nuggets have traveled all over the world, a secret to those who know but hiding in plain sight in any China town grocery store.
Li Hing Mai Tai
Chinese ingredients
In the early 1900s imported Chinese ingredients started making it on the scene in Hawaii and li hing mui , the traveling plum, had found a home on the Hawaiian islands. Li hing mui’s flavour profile was perfect paired with the bounty of fruit on the islands and one of Hawaii’s first food trends was born.
Like many crazes or fads demand would eventually outweigh availability and somewhere along the way li hing powder was developed. I would like to think the original li hing powder was what was left at the bottom of a huge bag of imported li hing mui after their bumpy sea voyage over to Hawaii, but probably not. Never the less Hawaiians adopted li hing powder to take its place somewhere between the salt and pepper in many kitchens. With its cross over flavours of salty, sweet and sour it was a perfect foil for the candy sweet pineapples or other sweet fruit and could work the other way in tart pickles or preserves bridging flavours and making food taste more dynamic.
Phenylketonurics
The ingredient list for li hing powder starts out, thankfully, with plums (the dried skins in fact),then things kind of get out of hand and the list reads something like a can of pop, with the second ingredient being sugar followed by things like benzoin acid, saccharin, aspartame, licorice, red #40, yellow #5 & #6 and something called phenylketonurics in the form of phenylalanine.
Li Hing garnished smoothie
But like the flavour dust on a potato chip or your favorite cola, when it tastes good people are willing to look the other way and indulge. Thankfully there is a rumor that some chefs are developing a more natural li hing powder using natural colours and more actual li hing mui.
Li hing powder
Hawaii is about the only place you will find li hing powder (unless you go online) and over the years it has made its way from pineapples and other fruit to candy and popcorn and works magic dusted over a shave ice or rimming the glass of your favourite cocktail. For some, once food has been dusted with this radiant pink powder there is no going back, happily taking the place of salt when it can, heightening flavours, usually in contrast with something very sweet. Working its magic in addictive ways like hot sauce on Cajun food or salt on caramel creating a little excitement.
Today, the traveling plum continues its journey but thankfully left behind cousin li hing in Hawaii for all to try when visiting the islands.
This looks absolutely delicious and refreshing. I had never heard of it before. Love it.
We’ll be in Hawaii in February. I’m adding li hing mui to the list of things to try while there. However, you do have to admit that Hawaiians have someone strange tastes—i.e. the inexplicable addiction to Spam. 😉
Spam is our guilty pleasure, we’ve experimented with it quite a bit while in Hawaii 🙂
I did not previously know about li hing mui but now I maybe I can look for the secret ingredient now that I am in the know.
I absolutely love Li hing mui, as I used to live in Hawaii and developed quite a taste for it then. Thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite flavors!!
Any time Valen, glad we could spark a good memory.
I loved this stuff when I was in Hawaii but I wish I had picked some up to bring home and experiment with new flavors here. It’s really great on shave ice and ice cream as well!
We use it in and on sugar cookies, salad dressing etc… the possibilities are endless!
I have never heard of this amazing sounding beverage! It’s definitely on my list for my trip to Hawaii next year.
I gave never heard of li hung mui, but the drinks in the post look refreshing. Something else to try if I make it to Hawaii.
What a fascinating piece of culinary history. I never heard of the traveling plum or li hing powder but will keep a look out for it next time I’m in Hawaii!
This sounds interesting and I will add it to my Hawaii list of foods to try
interesting new to me
What a fascinating history of this interesting additive. I love that many Hawaiian foods are such a hybrid of local (indigenous) flavours mixed with Japanese, Chinese and Filipino flavour influences. I’ll have to try li hing next time I’m in Hawaii!
This is unique. My mouth is watering.
Fascinating! I’m sorry to say we weren’t aware of this fascinating drink when we were in Hawaii but I will be sure to have it on my list of things to try when we return there! Thanks!