Chinese Salted Plums: A Guide to Rediscovering the Taste of Asia

For some, the Chinese salted plum is a true Proustian moment—a childhood flavour that is both complex and comforting. For others, it's the perfect gateway into the fascinating world of Asian snacks, with its intriguing balance of sweet, sour, and salty. But whether you're feeling nostalgic or you're a culinary explorer, finding the perfect one online can quickly become a puzzle given the vast array of options. That's why our editorial team has prepared this guide: to help you make the right choice, with complete objectivity and without any marketing jargon.

How to Choose Your Asian Salted Plums?

To ensure you make the right choice, here are the key points to check. Mastering these nuances is the key to finding a product that will perfectly match your tastes.

1. Identify the Preparation Method: Candied, Dried, or Smoked?

Not all plums are created equal. Their flavours and textures vary dramatically depending on the preservation method:

• Candied Green Plum: Often sweeter and juicier, it retains a crunchy texture and a very fresh taste. Sugar is typically used to offset the fruit's natural acidity.
• Dried Plum (Huamei): This is the most iconic version, known as huamei. The drying process concentrates the fruit's aromas. Its texture is firmer, almost chewy, and its flavour profile offers an intense combination of salt, sugar, and acidity.
• Smoked Plum: A rarer variety, this adds a new dimension to the taste. Smoking imparts woody and complex notes that pair wonderfully with the salty-sweet profile.

2. Check the Ingredient List: With or Without Sugar?

A quick look at the ingredient list is essential. While traditional recipes combine sugar and salt, there are now more and more sugar-free salted plum options to suit all diets. These use sweeteners (steviol glycosides, aspartame, etc.) to recreate the original taste with fewer calories. This is a key point to verify if you are mindful of your sugar intake.

3. Consider the Format: Individual or for Sharing?

Packaging is a practical detail that matters. Large bags or buckets are more economical, perfect for evenings with friends or for true fans. For on-the-go snacking or better portion control, individually wrapped sachets are unbeatable: they preserve the freshness of each plum and slip easily into a bag.

Our Chinese Salted Plum Selection

We have selected a few benchmark products for you, available online, each catering to specific cravings.

Liu Liu Prune Original Green Plum 160?g

Key Feature: A classic recipe that enhances the natural taste and crunchy texture of the candied green plum.

This product gets straight to the point: the fruit. With a green plum content of at least 90%, you get to enjoy a thick flesh and a perfectly mastered balance between sugar and acidity. The traditional recipe (sugar, salt, spices) preserves the fruit's authentic aroma.

Why we love it:

• Very high in fruit (90% minimum green plum).
• Its crunchy and refreshing texture.
• Individual sachets, perfect for when you're on the move.

Who is it for? For those who want to rediscover the authentic taste and juicy texture of candied green plum in a convenient, on-the-go format.

Jia Jian Cheng Chu Preserved Plum 120?g

Key Feature: The sugar-free version for fans of the classic huamei taste.

This snack captures the traditional flavour of salted and dried plum but skips the added sugar. It is sweetened with a blend of sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, steviol glycosides), making it a lighter alternative. The texture remains firm and chewy, releasing its characteristic salty-sour profile in your mouth.

Why we love it:

• The zero-sugar formula, replaced by sweeteners.
• The authentic taste of huamei (salty-sweet-sour).
• Its firm and pleasant mouthfeel.

Who is it for? For those who are health-conscious or watching their sugar intake but don't want to give up the pleasure of a traditional salted plum. Warning: Contains a source of phenylalanine.

Liu Liu Prune Dried Plums 160?g

Key Feature: A unique aromatic profile, achieved through traditional smoking.

This smoked plum stands out for its complexity. Made with 94.5% green plums, it is smoked and then dried, which gives it a distinctive woody note. This characteristic clearly sets it apart from other preserved plums and makes it a unique Asian snack.

Why we love it:

• Its very high fruit content (94.5%).
• The original and complex smoky aroma.
• The resealable bag, well-designed for preservation.

Who is it for? For curious palates seeking bold and complex flavours, who want to discover a more niche variety of Asian dried plum.

Be&Cheery King Plum Bucket 500?g

Key Feature: An assortment of five varieties for the indecisive (and the foodies).

This generous 500g bucket is the perfect solution for those who can't decide or for large gatherings. It contains a mix of five types of preserved plums: snow plum, yangmei (Chinese bayberry), Suzhou-style plum, green plum, and prune. Each variety has its own character, from the sweetest to the most sour.

Why we love it:

• The five varieties to mix things up.
• The 500g jumbo size, economical and great for sharing.
• Approximately 70 individual sachets, which are ultra-practical.

Who is it for? Ideal for families, gatherings with friends, or simply for those who love having a choice and discovering multiple flavours at once.

Want to Discover Other Asian Snacks?

The Chinese salted plum is just one entry point into the galaxy of Asian snacks. If you're feeling adventurous, explore our selection of tasty bites, perfect for a unique appetiser or a discovery night.

Discover our selection of snacks to share

Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese Salted Plums

What are Chinese salted plums, or huamei?

The Chinese salted plum, often called huamei (话梅), is a traditional treat made from plums (usually green plums) that are dried, salted, and sometimes sweetened. It is a very popular confection in Asia, prized for its powerful taste and its reputation for whetting the appetite.

What do Asian dried plums taste like?

Their taste is arguably what makes them so unique. It is a complex balance of three main flavours: salty, sweet, and sour. Depending on the preparation, one of these flavours may dominate, but it is their combination that makes this treat so unique and, for many, completely addictive.

Where can I find an online Chinese grocery store to buy these plums?

Finding authentic Asian products has become much simpler. Specialised platforms act as a true online Chinese grocery store, offering a wide selection of imported snacks, including different varieties of Chinese salted plum, with direct home delivery.