City guide
Where to find salty plums in Melbourne
Melbourne's Asian grocery scene is deep and well spread out. The dried-goods aisles of larger Asian supermarkets are your best first stop, followed by the big fresh markets and the suburban precincts with large Chinese and Vietnamese communities. We do not list specific stockists; these are the areas worth checking.
Where to start
Queen Victoria Market
The CBD's biggest market. The deli and dry-goods sheds, plus nearby Asian grocers around the market, are the places to look. Weekdays are calmer.
Victoria Street, Richmond
Melbourne's Vietnamese heartland. Grocers along the strip stock a wide range of Asian dried fruit and snacks.
Springvale
A major Southeast Asian shopping precinct with large grocery stores and a fresh food market.
Box Hill
Strong Chinese grocery presence, including larger supermarkets with dedicated dried goods aisles.
Footscray & Preston
Both have long-running markets and a broad mix of Asian and international grocers.
Glen Waverley & Dandenong
Outer-suburban options with substantial Asian supermarket coverage if you are south-east.
What to look for
- Red salty plums — bright scarlet, often in tubs or bags.
- Hua mei — darker, smoky and often sold near Chinese dried goods. See what hua mei is.
- Umeboshi — in Japanese grocers and the Japanese section of larger stores.
- Li hing mui — less common, but some specialty and Hawaiian food stockists carry it. See li hing mui explained.
Stock varies by store and season. Call ahead if you need a specific variety.