I was lucky enough to be given a tub of li hing mui plum powder from some lovely friends during our visit, but if you don’t feel like searching for it, pay no mind, just replace the li hing powder with some sea salt. Same goes for the grapefruit soda. Can’t find any? Just replace it with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and some soda water. Cheers!
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Li Hing Mui Paloma Drink
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Li hing mui or li hing powder can be found at most Asian food markets unless you happen to find yourself in Hawaii- then it can be purchased, well, just about everywhere.
Ingredients
- 1/4 teaspoon (or more) li hing powder
- Freshly squeezed juice from 1 lime
- 2 ounces tequila
- grapefruit soda
Instructions
- Combine li hing powder, lime juice, and tequila in a glass of your choice. Fill your glass with ice then top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
Frequently Asked Questions
What is li hing powder and where can I find it?
Li hing powder (also called li hing mui powder) is a dried, salted plum powder with a sour-salty flavor. It is a Hawaiian snack staple and widely used as a rim seasoning. Find it at Asian food markets or online. If you can’t source it, coarse sea salt is a direct substitute for the rim.
Can I make this without tequila?
The recipe uses 2oz of tequila as the spirit base. For a non-alcoholic version, replace the tequila with sparkling water or additional grapefruit soda and increase the lime juice slightly to keep the tartness. The li hing powder and lime still carry the characteristic Hawaiian flavor.
What if I can’t find grapefruit soda?
Replace grapefruit soda with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice plus soda water. Use roughly 2oz grapefruit juice and top with soda water to the same volume you would have used of soda. The result is a less sweet, more tart drink.
How much li hing powder should I use?
1/4 teaspoon or more, mixed directly into the glass with the lime juice and tequila before adding ice and soda. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and add more to taste — the powder is salty and sour, so a little goes a long way.
it would be helpful to mention what li hing mui is, so people don’t need to google it if they aren’t familiar with this tangy salty stuff.