Everything you've ever wanted to know about salty plums — and several things you probably didn't.
Start here
Salty plums are preserved plums cured in a salt-and-sugar mix (plus a few secret extras) until they turn chewy, tart and savoury-sweet. The cure gives them that lasting flavour and a very long shelf life — usually 12 to 24 months if kept in a cool, dry place.
Darwin has a salty plum culture all its own. The Territory's hot, wet climate suits these preserved plums, and generations grew up on them. Darwin salty plums are known for a serious pucker and a wide variety of styles — from bright red to white-crusted to sweet and seedless.
Darwin Red is the Territory classic — bold, salty, slightly sweet, and the one that started it all for most locals. It's the flavour people mean when they say "salty plum." Shop Darwin Red.
Seeded plums keep the pit and that classic "suck the seed" ritual. Seedless plums skip all of that — you get the same flavour with none of the fiddling, which makes them easier to snack by the handful and popular with kids. Shop seedless.
Know your varieties
The bright red ones. Bold, salty and slightly sweet — the strongest Territory association. Great all-rounder.
Shop red plumsThe white powder is the salt-and-sugar cure (not mould!). White plums tend to be among the saltiest and most intense.
Shop white plumsThe "Amazing" brown plums are sweeter and chewier — the friendly crowd-pleaser for people who want less acid.
Shop brown plumsLi hing mui is a Hawaiian-style preserved plum dusted in a salty-sweet-sour powder. It's a close cousin of Australian salty plums, and we carry li hing mui-style products for fans of that flavour profile.
It's the salt-and-sugar cure mix used to make the plums, sold on its own. You can sprinkle it on fruit, rim a cocktail, or stir it into drinks for a tangy, salty umami kick.
Start with a classic Darwin Red (balanced salt and sweet) or a sweeter brown plum if you're not used to the pucker. A sample pack lets you try several at once.
Go for the white plums and the intense salt-crusted varieties — the ones our regulars call "Salty Salty Salty." They're the most extreme end of the range.
Pop a salty plum into your water bottle for a natural electrolyte hit — a Darwin classic. Or infuse a couple of red plums in gin for 48 hours for a salty-sweet cocktail.
Beyond snacking, salty plums add a savoury-sweet punch to rice dishes, salads and marinades. Chop them fine, or use the powder as a seasoning.
Darwin's salty plum culture goes back decades, shaped by the Territory's multicultural food scene and its love of bold, preserved snacks. We've been chasing the perfect pucker since 2005. Read our story.
Cured plums have a long shelf life — usually 12 to 24 months when kept in a cool, dry place. That makes them a handy snack to stock up on.
We're the specialist — the Salty Plum Shop in Darwin. We ship Australia-wide, and we supply retailers too.
