Li Hing Mui

Li hing mui is an Asian snack., which became popular in Hawaii about 100 years ago. Li hing means "traveling" and mui means "plum" and has a sweet, sour, and salty taste. Over the years other terms came into common usage, namely, see mui, (salt water plum) wa mui (awaking the senses plum), and crackseed. (licorice plum with a cracked seed). Fruits used in the making of li hing mui are cherry, apple, olive, plum, lemon, peach, mango, kam quate, lime, ume, and apricot. The only root used is ginger. More recently, li hing powder, which is used to season the various fruit used to make li hing mui, is now being sold separately to give the li hing taste to frozen deserts, meats, lollipops, cookies, salsa, snacks like popcorn and alcoholic drinks. Many li hing mui stores were established, especially on Oahu Island, and were displayed in large jars and sold by the pound.