Li Hing Mui means “traveling plum” in Cantonese — a name that reflects its journey from China to Hawaiʻi. Chinese immigrants brought the dried sour plum (Prunus mume) with them in the mid-1800s when they arrived to work on plantations across the islands. Over time, the snack became a local favorite, evolving into the iconic salty-sweet, sour treat we know and love today.