Dried Black Plum (Wu Mei) | (500g)

About

If you regularly cook with traditional Chinese herbs or like to keep your home apothecary stocked, this 500g bag of Wu Mei (dried black plum) is a great staple to have on hand. Known for its distinctively tart, slightly smoky taste, Wu Mei has been part of Chinese herbal and culinary culture for centuries.

These black plums are dried using time-tested methods to preserve their rich flavour and natural qualities. They’re not sweet like snack plums, as Wu Mei has a more intense, sour character that works beautifully in cooking or herbal teas. The larger pack gives you plenty to work with, whether you're preparing nourishing broths, making traditional drinks, or mixing your own herbal blends.

Potential Benefits of Wu Mei 500g

Sour and Astringent: Wu Mei's pronounced sourness is its defining quality, and the reason it is used to balance richer, sweeter ingredients.

Natural Compounds: Wu Mei naturally contains plant compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids.

Post-Meal Tradition: Long included in traditional preparations enjoyed after meals, alongside the other sour fruits in the range.

Traditional Heritage: One of the best known preserved fruits in Chinese practice, used for centuries in both cooking and herbal blends.

Versatile: Suits teas, broths, sauces, marinades, and sweet preparations alike.

Shop all Large Loose Culinary Herbs

Recommended Usage

We recommend around 10g per portion. Here are some suggestions on how to use Wu Mei:

Culinary applications: Dried black plum is used in cooking to add a unique flavour and aroma to dishes. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese cuisine to enhance the taste of soups, stews, sauces, and marinades. It can also be used in sweet preparations, such as jams, desserts, and herbal teas.

Herbal teas and infusions: Dried black plum can be used to make herbal teas and infusions. It is often combined with other herbs or ingredients to create flavourful and aromatic beverages. Black plum tea has a sour and slightly sweet taste.

Condiments and seasonings: Dried black plum can be ground into a powder and used as a condiment or seasoning in culinary applications. The powdered form, known as Wu Mei San, is used in traditional Chinese cuisine to add a tangy and savoury flavour to dishes. It can be sprinkled on stir-fries or salads and also used as a seasoning for vegetable and tofu dishes.

Traditional blends: Dried black plum is often used in traditional herbal formulations, combined with other herbs to create balanced blends.

When using dried black plum in cooking or herbal preparations, follow proper recipes or consult a knowledgeable source to ensure safe and effective use.

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.

The 500g size is ideal for:

• Frequent users who go through herbs quickly,
• Making larger batches of herbal tea or tonic,
• Preparing seasonal blends,
• Anyone who doesn’t want to run out mid-recipe.

Other Formats of This Herb

Wu Mei is stocked in three forms:

• This 500g bag is the whole dried fruit in the bulk size
• Dried Black Plum (Wu Mei) | 100g the smaller pack, good for trying it first
• Wu Mei Concentrated Granules | 100g bottle dissolves in hot water in seconds, though it cannot be used in cooking the way the whole fruit can

What to Use It With

Wu Mei is rarely the only ingredient. These are the ones most often used alongside it:

• Dried Hawthorn Berries (Shan Zha) | 100g the other sour fruit in the range, often simmered together
• Dried Liquorice Root (Gan Cao) | 500g added to balance the sourness
• Dried Orange Peel (Chen Pi) | 500g a natural partner in both teas and slow-cooked dishes

Why Choose Vita?

Every herb we sell at Vita Herbal Nutrition is non-sulphur treated and chosen for use in the kitchen and in traditional preparation.

We offer a completely sulphur-free herb collection. Unlike many others who use sulphur to improve appearance and extend shelf life, this treatment can affect the herb’s natural properties and may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. You can read more on our non-sulphur treated herbs page.

We follow the DaoDi principle of choosing each herb from the area traditionally associated with it, and we have worked with the same supply partners since 2010.

FAQ

What is dried black plum (Wu Mei) used for?
Dried black plum is traditionally used in Chinese herbal practices and cooking, valued for its sour, slightly smoky character.

What natural compounds does dried black plum contain?
Like many dried fruits, it naturally contains polyphenols and flavonoids.

What does Wu Mei taste like?
Distinctly tart and slightly smoky, far more intense than a snack plum, which is why it is usually balanced with sweeter ingredients.

How can I use dried black plum in my diet?
It can be enjoyed in teas, soups, stews, traditional blends, and even as a seasoning for savoury dishes.

What is the difference between the 500g and 100g packs?
Only the quantity. Both are the same whole dried fruit, so the 100g pack is simply the smaller option.

How should I store it?
Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. With a pack this size, decanting a working amount into a smaller jar keeps the bulk sealed for longer.