Directory
Where to find salty plums in Australia
Salty plums are sold wherever there is a Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian or Hawaiian grocery trade. In practice that means Asian supermarkets in the suburbs, Chinese herbal and dried-goods shops, some market stalls, and a growing number of online sellers. We do not claim a particular shop stocks a particular brand unless we can verify it — instead, we tell you where to look.
Where they usually turn up
Asian supermarkets
The most reliable option. Look in the dried goods, snack or preserved fruit aisles, often near dried mango and tamarind.
Chinese herbal shops
Dried-goods and traditional medicine shops often carry hua mei and medicinal preserved plums alongside dried herbs.
Markets
Local and ethnic markets are a good bet, especially in Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne. Weekends are best.
Online
If you cannot find them locally, online sellers ship across Australia. See the range at SaltyPlums.com .
What to ask for
Names vary by shop. Try “salty plum”, “preserved plum”, “li hing mui”, “hua mei” or “umeboshi”. If the staff are not sure, describe the product: dried plums that are sour and salty, sometimes red or dusted with powder. Most Asian grocers will know exactly what you mean.
City guides
Find salty plums near you
These guides explain the kinds of shops and food precincts worth walking, city by city. We keep them honest: no invented stockists, no fake availability.
Darwin
The strongest salty plum culture in the country
Sydney
Cabramatta, Haymarket and beyond
Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market and Victoria Street
Guide coming soon
Brisbane
Sunnybank and the inner-south grocers.
Guide coming soon
Adelaide
Central Market and the suburban grocers.
Guide coming soon
Perth
Northbridge and the Amherst food strip.
Guide coming soon
Cairns
Far North Queensland's Asian grocers.
Guide coming soon
Gold Coast
Southport and the northern strip.
Can't find them locally?
Browse salty plums available online at SaltyPlums.com.