Li Hing Mui Explained: Hawaii's Sweet, Salty & Tangy Favorite

Aug 6th 2026

Li Hing Mui is one of Hawaii's most iconic flavors, but many people don't realize it refers to both a preserved plum and a popular seasoning powder. Here's what they are, how they're different, and which one you should try first.

Quick Answer

Li Hing Mui can refer to:

Li Hing Mui (Preserved Plum): A sweet, salty, and tangy preserved plum enjoyed as a snack. It comes in both seeded and seedless varieties.
Li Hing Mui Powder: A seasoning made from preserved plums that's sprinkled on dried fruit, candy, popcorn, shaved ice, lemon peel, and other local favorites.

At The Beef Jerky Store, we carry both traditional Li Hing Mui plums and Li Hing Mui powder, along with a wide variety of Li Hing-flavored snacks.

Li Hing Mui (Preserved Plum)

Traditional Li Hing Mui is a preserved plum that's dried, salted, and sweetened. Depending on the variety, it may contain the seed or be seedless.

Some popular varieties include:

Seedless Sweet Li Hing Mui
King Sweet Li Hing Mui
Red King Sweet Li Hing Mui

Li Hing Mui Powder

Li Hing Mui powder is made by grinding preserved plums into a fine seasoning. It's famous for its sweet, salty, and tangy flavor.

It's commonly enjoyed on:

Dried mango and other dried fruits
Gummies and candy
Popcorn

Which One Should You Try?

If you're trying Li Hing Mui for the first time, Li Hing Mui powder is a great place to start since it's used on many popular Hawaiian snacks.

If you want the traditional experience, try preserved Li Hing Mui plums, available in both seeded and seedless varieties.

Shop Our Li Hing Favorites

Whether you're looking for traditional Li Hing Mui plums, Li Hing Mui powder, or Li Hing-coated snacks, you'll find one of the largest selections at The Beef Jerky Store.