Variety guide
White salty plums explained
White salty plums are preserved plums with little or no added colour and often less sugar. They look pale buff, grey or off-white, sometimes with a salt bloom, and they tend to taste tangier and more fruit-forward than the bright red styles. If red plums are the flashy one, white plums are the quieter traditionalist.
Why some plums are pale
Colour is a choice. Red salty plums are dyed with permitted food colouring, which we cover in why salty plums are red. White plums simply skip that step or use far less colour, leaving the dried flesh to show through as pale tan, grey or buff.
Sugar is often reduced too, which is why white plums can taste more savoury and sour. But that is a general tendency, not a guarantee: brands vary, and some white plums are sweetened heavily.
What do white salty plums taste like?
Expect a clean sour-salt hit with fruit right behind it. Without the sweetening and colouring of red plums, the plum's own character is more obvious: sometimes grassy, sometimes floral, often with a slight bitterness at the end. They are less of a lolly and more of a proper preserved fruit.
If you want to taste the plum rather than the candy, start white.
Red vs white salty plums
| Feature | Red salty plum | White salty plum |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Dyed scarlet | Pale buff to grey |
| Sweetness | Usually sweeter | Usually less sweet |
| Flavour | Sweet-sour, candy-like | Tangy, fruity, more savoury |
| Best for | Snacking, fun drinks | Cooking, purists, subtle drinks |
How to use them
- Straight from the packet — expect a sour hit with less sugar than red plums.
- In syrups and cocktails where you do not want the drink to turn bright pink. See the cocktail guide.
- In cooking — chopped into sauces, steamed with pork or used as a sour note like tamarind. See hua mei for the darker cooking style.
Frequently asked
Why are white salty plums white?+
Because little or no red colouring is used. The pale tone is the dried fruit itself, sometimes with a bloom of salt and sugar.
Are white salty plums less salty?+
Not necessarily. White refers to colour. Some white plums are strongly salted; some red plums are sweeter than they are salty. Compare the nutrition panels.
What is the white powder on the surface?+
Usually dried brine, fine sugar or a preservative such as sodium metabisulphite (223). Even powder on firm fruit is normal; fuzzy growth is not. See ingredients explained.