Plum Snack Guide: Find Your Favourite Sweet and Sour Flavour

Are you searching for that unique, sweet and sour taste you can't find in a typical supermarket? Then a plum snack from Asian cuisine might be exactly what you're looking for. The variety is vast: from soft, preserved fruits to candies with an intense flavour. It can be tricky to know where to start.

As a Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer, I'm here to guide you. My job is to filter the selection and provide you with practical information so you can make a choice that suits your taste. In this article, we'll highlight some popular options and offer tips on what to look for.

What to Look for When Choosing a Plum Snack

Not all plum snacks are created equal. The texture, flavour, and even the purpose can vary significantly. Here are a few key points to help you choose.

1. Texture: Preserved Fruit or Soft Candy?

The first choice you can make is based on texture. A preserved plum is often the whole fruit, pickled in sugar, salt, and sometimes spices. These snacks have a fleshy, slightly chewy bite and a concentrated fruit flavour. On the other hand, you have plum candies, which have a soft and chewy texture, similar to wine gums or toffees, but with an authentic plum taste.

2. Flavour Profile: Sweet and Sour or Intense Umami?

Most Asian snacks with plum balance between sweet and sour. But there are important differences. Some snacks are predominantly sweet with a slightly sour undertone. Others, like products with the Japanese ume plum, can have a much more intense, salty, and sour taste that might take some getting used to. If you enjoy bold flavours, sour plums are an adventurous choice.

3. Function: Purely for Snacking or Also for Your Throat?

Think about when you want to eat the snack. Are you looking for something to satisfy a craving between meals? Then a bag of preserved plums or soft candies is ideal. However, there are also plum-flavoured throat candies. These often combine the sweet and sour taste of plum with herbal extracts, giving them a dual function: delicious and soothing.

Our Plum Snack Recommendations

Based on product features and popularity, we have made a selection of three different types of plum snacks that provide a good overview of what's available.

Liu Liu Prune Original Green Plum 160g

Why it stands out: This snack is a classic preserved plum. According to the manufacturer, the product contains ≥90% green plum, which ensures a full, fleshy texture. The traditional preservation method with sugar, salt, and spices provides an authentic, sweet and sour taste that preserves the natural fruit aromas well.

Benefits:

• Rich in fruit pulp with a crisp texture.
• Sweet and sour, ideal for whetting the appetite.
• Individually wrapped inside the bag, making them easy to carry and share.

Who is it for? For lovers of an authentic, fleshy plum snack. If you appreciate the texture of real fruit and are looking for a traditional flavour, this is an excellent choice.

View Liu Liu Prune Original Green Plum on Joybuy.nl

Ribon Soft Candy With Plum - 70 g

Why it stands out: These are typical Japanese candies with a soft, chewy texture. The flavour is a balanced mix of sweet and sour, derived from real plum paste. The candies are individually wrapped, which makes them hygienic and convenient for on the go.

Benefits:

• Soft, chewy texture.
• Balanced sweet and sour taste with a fruity aroma.
• Contains no artificial colours or preservatives, according to the specifications.

Who is it for? Ideal for those who love soft, fruity candies and are looking for an approachable introduction to plum sweets. Also a great option for children or for sharing at the office.

View Ribon Soft Candy With Plum on Joybuy.nl

NIN JIOM Herbal Candy Tin UME Plum 60g

Why it stands out: These candies from the well-known brand NIN JIOM combine the intense flavour of the ume plum with a blend of herbal extracts, such as platycodon and licorice root. They are specifically formulated to soothe the throat and offer a unique, complex flavour that is sour, sweet, and herbal all at once.

Benefits:

• Combines the flavour of ume plum with soothing herbs.
• Packaged in a convenient and reusable tin.
• Offers a more complex flavour profile than a standard fruit candy.

Who is it for? Perfect for those seeking throat relief with a unique taste. Also suitable for adventurous snackers who want to experience the distinctive, intense flavour of the ume plum.

View NIN JIOM Herbal Candy Tin UME Plum on Joybuy.nl

Haven't Found What You're Looking For?

Taste is personal, and our assortment is wide. The selection above is just a starting point in the world of plum snacks. If these options aren't quite what you're looking for, or if you're simply curious about other flavours, we invite you to explore further.

Discover More in Our Natural Sweets Category

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a regular plum and an ume plum? An ume plum is technically not a plum but a type of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume). In cuisine, however, it is treated like a plum. The main difference is in the taste. Ume is naturally extremely sour and is almost always pickled in salt (umeboshi) or processed into syrups and candies. As a result, its flavour is much more intense, saltier, and more complex than that of the sweet plums we are used to in Europe.

2. Are Asian plum snacks a healthy choice? Although plums are a fruit, these snacks are often preserved with sugar and salt to enhance flavour and shelf life. It is therefore wise to see them as a treat and enjoy them in moderation. For specific nutritional information, such as sugar and salt content, it is always best to consult the label on the packaging.

3. Where can I buy these unique plum candies? These specific Asian snacks are usually not available in regular supermarkets. You will mainly find them at Asian specialty stores or at specialty online retailers like Joybuy.nl, where a broader and more specialised assortment is available.