Kiamoy (also spelled kiamuy or kiam muy, or in Philippine Spanish as ciamoy), is a class of Filipino treats made with dried sour

plum A plum is a fruit of some species in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus'.'' Dried plums are called prunes. History Plums may have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Three of the most abundantly cultivated species are not found i ...

s, prunes, or

apricot An apricot (, ) is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus ''Prunus''. Usually, an apricot is from the species '' P. armeniaca'', but the fruits of the other species in ''Prunus'' sect. ''Armeniaca'' are also ...

s preserved in

brine Brine is a high-concentration solution of salt (NaCl) in water (H2O). In diverse contexts, ''brine'' may refer to the salt solutions ranging from about 3.5% (a typical concentration of seawater, on the lower end of that of solutions used for br ...

and vinegar. They are sold covered in a powdery coating of an

anise Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia. The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...

(sometimes licorice), ''li hing'' (red powder made from plum seeds), salt, and sugar mixture called "kiamoy powder" or ''kiam-muy-hoon''. They are characteristically bright red, orange, or light brown in color. They originate from Chinese Filipino immigrants and are derived from the '' li hing mui'' (旅行梅) treats of Chinese cuisine (also called ''huamei'', 話梅). The name is derived from

Philippine Hokkien Philippine Hokkien is a dialect of the Hokkien language of the Southern Min branch, primarily spoken vernacularly by Chinese Filipinos in the Philippines, where it serves as the local Chinese ''lingua franca'', primarily spoken as an oral langu ...

. A local variant of the kiamoy that evolved in the Bicol Region of the Philippines is champóy (also spelled tsampóy, sampóy, or cham-poi, names which can also apply to kiamoy). It differs from kiamoy in that champóy is made from the locally available berry '' Myrica rubra'' (which is also known as "champóy"). Champóy is also dark red to black in color and has a predominantly sweet and tart flavor profile, in contrast to the saltier flavor profile of kiamoy. In modern times, the term "champóy" has also come to include the similar-tasting sampalok candy (sometimes differentiated as champóy na sampalok), which are sweets made from tamarind balls cooked in sugar and/or salt. Champoy is derived from Cantonese , referring to '' chenpi''. Kiamoy are popular as street food usually sold near schools and are also commonly eaten as a remedy for

car sickness Motion sickness occurs due to a difference between actual and expected motion. Symptoms commonly include nausea, vomiting, cold sweat, headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and increased salivation. Complications may rarely include de ...

. Kiamoy can also be infused into alcoholic drinks. Kiamoy powder is also sold separately as an ingredient, and can be used as a coating for

kiamoy chicken Kiamoy (also spelled kiamuy or kiam muy, or in Philippine Spanish as ciamoy), is a class of Filipino cuisine, Filipino treats made with dried sour plums, prunes, or apricots preserved in brine and vinegar. They are sold covered in a powdery co ...

or as a dip for fruits like pomelo, fresh green mango, or pickled green mango. Kiamoy and champóy are believed to be the direct ancestors of the

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

treat saladitos and the chamoy sauce derived from it. They were transported to Nueva España by Filipino migrants via the Manila Galleons (1565 to 1815).

References

{{Filipino food Candy Philippine desserts Vegetarian dishes of the Philippines Food preservation Philippine fusion cuisine

See also

References