Variety guide
What is hua mei?
Hua mei is a Chinese preserved plum, usually brown-black and sold dried or in a sticky syrup. It tastes smoky, herbal and deeply sour, with less sweetness and colour than the red salty plums most Australians know. It is a slower, more grown-up kind of salty plum, and a favourite for cooking.
What does hua mei taste like?
Think tamarind, smoked tea and a squeeze of lime, with salt running underneath. The sourness is round rather than sharp, and the finish lingers. Some brands add licorice, dried citrus peel or herbs, which pushes it further into savoury territory.
If red salty plums are the candy of the family, hua mei is the condiment. That makes it excellent in the kitchen but a surprise if you were expecting something sweet.
How is it made?
Hua mei is salted, dried for longer than sweeter styles, then flavoured with sugar, herbs and sometimes smoke or licorice. The long dry concentrates the fruit and creates that dense, almost leathery texture. The process is covered in more detail in how salty plums are made.
How to use it
- Straight up. One at a time. It rewards slow eating.
- Chopped into sauce. Works like tamarind: add to a pan sauce or marinade for sour depth.
- Steamed with meat. A classic pairing with pork, where it cuts through fat.
- In a sour drink. Dissolve a little into hot water, then use as a sour element in cocktails.
Hua mei is the one that makes cooks sit up. It does everything tamarind does, with more smoke.
Hua mei vs salty plum
The difference is mostly sweetness and colour. Red salty plums are sweet-sour and dyed; hua mei is drier, darker and more savoury. For the full map of styles, see the varieties hub, or compare the two most famous preserved plums in salty plum vs umeboshi.
Frequently asked
Is hua mei sweet?+
Some brands sweeten it, but it is generally much less sweet than a red salty plum and far more sour and savoury.
Does hua mei have a stone?+
Whole hua mei usually contains a stone; pitted versions are available but less common. Check the packet.
Where can I buy it?+
Asian grocery stores and specialty food retailers are often worth checking. See Find Salty Plums.