Savoury caramelised aroma of carob; some cereal notes…a savoury taste

Our desert raisin (also known as the bush tomato) is wild harvested in the Central Desert by indigenous women. Our vision is to improve the lives of women and their families by supporting cultural activities and income generation and enriching knowledge to the younger generations and keeping country strong.

The desert raisin is probably the most important of all the Central Australian plant foods. It is a good source of selenium, potassium and iron.

Nutritional Information (per 100grams)

Energy 998 Kj, Protein 10.3g, Total fat 6g, Total saturated fatty acids 1.5 g Carbohydrates 29.2g, Sugar (total) 29g

Health Benefits

Contains more antioxidants than blueberries and selenium, a rare mineral which plays a key role in the metabolism. A rich source of minerals, particularly potassium, it is also high in vitamin C.

Recommendations

Bush tomato is usually used in its dried form. It has a distinctive raisin / caramel introduction with a strong spicy aftertaste, making it ideal for chutneys, curries, salsas and as a crust on Meats. The trick with it is not too use too much. Add a teaspoonful to any tomato based sauce.

Ground, it can be found in bread mixes, herb blends, pasta, relishes, dressings, sauces and dukkah.

A major strength of the bush tomato is its unique and intense flavour, which retains its integrity in many applications and in relatively small ratios to total ingredient mass.

Enjoy this incredible blend of wild harvested wattleseed, nuts, seeds and spices.
Serve it with crusty bread and good olive oil, Sprinkle it over roasted vegetables, top your hummus with dukkah for some crunch.

Skip the croutons, and finish simple green salads with dukkah instead.

Savoury caramelised aroma of carob; some cereal notes…a savoury taste

Our desert raisin (also known as the bush tomato) is wild harvested in the Central Desert by indigenous women. Our vision is to improve the lives of women and their families by supporting cultural activities and income generation and enriching knowledge to the younger generations and keeping country strong.

The desert raisin is probably the most important of all the Central Australian plant foods. It is a good source of selenium, potassium and iron.

Nutritional Information (per 100grams)

Energy 998 Kj, Protein 10.3g, Total fat 6g, Total saturated fatty acids 1.5 g Carbohydrates 29.2g, Sugar (total) 29g

Health Benefits

Contains more antioxidants than blueberries and selenium, a rare mineral which plays a key role in the metabolism. A rich source of minerals, particularly potassium, it is also high in vitamin C.

Recommendations

Bush tomato is usually used in its dried form. It has a distinctive raisin / caramel introduction with a strong spicy aftertaste, making it ideal for chutneys, curries, salsas and as a crust on Meats. The trick with it is not too use too much. Add a teaspoonful to any tomato based sauce.

Ground, it can be found in bread mixes, herb blends, pasta, relishes, dressings, sauces and dukkah.

A major strength of the bush tomato is its unique and intense flavour, which retains its integrity in many applications and in relatively small ratios to total ingredient mass.

Botanical name: Backhousia citriodora

Grows in the coastal rainforest regions between Brisbane and Mackay in QLD

Health Benefits

The key ingredient in lemon myrtle is the high concentration of citral in its leaves. Citral comprises 90-98% of the essential oils in lemon myrtle, as opposed to less than 10% in lemons and limes. Some of the characteristics of citral include:

• Citral is an anti-fungal agent.

• Citral is non-acidic.

• Citral is high in anti-oxidants.

The list of reputed health benefits of lemon myrtle tea is voluminous. Just some of the disorders it is said to be able to relieve include muscle cramps and spasms, rheumatism, headaches and fevers. Scientific studies have indicated that citral can inhibit the growth of the pathogen which is one of the causes of many gastro-duodenal diseases, including ulcers. It is also said to aid in the reduction of cellulite and the anti-oxidants in citral help boost the immune system. A pleasant tasting tea, it is used alone or in combination with green tea as a caffeine free replacement for coffee and black tea.

Aromatherapists and herbalists use lemon myrtle and its essential oil for a variety of reasons. No one who has experienced its fragrant aroma denies that it has a wonderfully relaxing effect and it is also said to improve concentration as well as promote better sleep. It is used as an inhalant to treat colds, flus and other congestive disorders. Used topically, it is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including warts and herpes simplex. Although lemon myrtle oil can be applied to the skin full strength, it is usually advised to dilute it with more neutral vegetable oils.

With so many of our naturally therapeutic herbs and other plants coming from overseas, it's nice to know that some of the best of them, including lemon myrtle tea, come from right here in Australia.