Chinese-Hawaiian
Chinese preserved fruit (candied, salted, dried plums, mangoes, lemons, ginger, and other fruits) is sold in small bags from dedicated crack seed shops. The flavour profile is intensely sweet-sour-salty. Li hing mui powder is the most versatile product — sprinkled on shave ice, dusted on malasadas, mixed into cocktails, and used as a coating for fresh fruit.
1. EXCEPTIONAL: Artisan crack seed from a dedicated shop — Crack Seed Store, Jade Food Products, or similar. The fruits are properly dried, balanced in sweet-sour-salt, and intensely flavoured. 2. GOOD: Quality commercial li hing mui products. 3. ADEQUATE: Pre-packaged crack seed from a grocery store. 4. INSUFFICIENT: Overly sweet without the sour-salt balance. Li hing mui is a three-way balance — sweet, sour, AND salty. Remove any leg and it falls.
EXCEPTIONAL: Artisan crack seed from a dedicated shop — Crack Seed Store, Jade Food Products, or similar. The fruits are properly dried, balanced in sweet-sour-salt, and intensely flavoured.
ADEQUATE: Pre-packaged crack seed from a grocery store. INSUFFICIENT: Overly sweet without the sour-salt balance. Li hing mui is a three-way balance — sweet, sour, AND salty. Remove any leg and it falls.
Pacific Migration Trail