Made by pickling plum skins in licorice, salt and sugar, and then grinding the mixture into a fine powder, li hing mui was originally made in China, but has since made its way to the Hawaiian Islands. While it is often thought to be an acquired taste, people from Hawaii simply can’t get enough of the salty, sweet and sour taste. This potent powder can turn nearly anything into an exotic treat, though there are some uses that are more popular than others. Here are 10 foods made better with li hing mui powder.

1. There’s no better way to eat fresh fruit.
Colin Ryder/Flickr
2. Sprinkle it on Hawaii’s favorite sweet treat - shave ice.
Annie/Flickr
3. Gummy Bears are elevated to the next level with li hing mui.
fictionalidentity/Flickr
4. It will make the flavor of your popcorn 'pop'.
Jayneaand/Flickrhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/jayneandd/4146776985/
5. Add li hing mui to your cranberry sauce for a Hawaiian Thanksgiving.
Timothy K. Hamilton/Flickr

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6. A li hing mui margarita will be your new favorite cocktail.
Buzz Andersen/Flickr
7. There’s nothing quite like pickled mangoes with li hing mui.
Chotda/Flickr
8. The powder makes an interesting salad dressing.
Alan Wong's Honolulu/Facebook
9. Some people swear by dried squid with li hing mui.
Rosa Say/Flickr
10. Oh, and it’s obviously used in a variety of candy, like these tasty lollipops.
Li Hing Mui Lollipops/Facebook

If you want to grab some li hing mui powder for use at home, we suggest purchasing the Jade brand, because many others use aspartame instead of real sugar, and the resulting flavor simply isn’t as good. For more foodie fun, here are 11 foods and drinks everyone in Hawaii simply adores.

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