Li Hing Mui Shaved Ice: Flavor & Pairings

What does Li Hing Mui taste like?

Li Hing Mui shaved ice is salty-sweet-sour plum — the kind of flavor that makes people close their eyes on the first spoonful. Its dusky red color comes through beautifully in fluffy hand-shaved snow, so it looks as good as it tastes.

Because our snow is shaved fresh rather than crushed, li hing mui syrup soaks evenly through every ribbon instead of pooling at the bottom. That means the last bite is just as flavorful as the first.

Where Li Hing Mui comes from

Li Hing Mui traces back to Hawaii by way of China, and it carries a little of that place in every spoonful. Li hing powder is a Hawaiian shave-ice icon sprinkled over everything from fruit to gummy candy.

Part of the fun of a shaved ice menu is that it's a passport — a single counter can hop from a Hawaiian beach to a Taiwanese night market to a desert roadside stand.

Best toppings for li hing mui shaved ice

Our favorite way to serve it is with pineapple and mango, which balances the sweetness and adds texture. A few more combinations worth trying:

• Fresh fruit that echoes the flavor, cut into little cubes
• A jelly or boba for a chewy contrast
• A drizzle of condensed milk or coconut cream to round it out
• A tiny sugar blossom on top, because we can't help ourselves

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