LI HING MUI
HISTORY
Li Hing Mui which translates to traveling seed was introduced and brought over to Hawaii by Chinese immigrants in the early 1900’s. Li Hing Mui is a dried fruit seed that's preserved by salt. Yick Lung was the first company to import in bulk from China and make li hing mui profitable in Hawai’i. Li hing mui refers to any type of preserved fruit but plum is the most common li hing mui seed that's seasoned with salt, licorice, and other spices. The flavors range from salty, sweet, to sour.
The way you eat li hing mui is to suck on the seed and eat the meat that surrounds the seed while licking the red powder that's on your fingers. Li hing mui powder is a popular form of the crack seed snack. The powder comes from grinding up the seed which creates a salty, sweet powder that is a common topping for beverages, pop corn, fresh fruit, and shaved ice.