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It makes a great gift for those who love cooking and trying out new flavours, its quite exciting really to discover something that's been around for many many years and is now making its way into restaurant kitchens throughout Australia. As a garden plant it's very hardy with beautiful purple/mauve flowers and a real bird and bee pleaser in the Spring. -
Round Leaf Mint Prostanthera rotundifolia is often called Native Basil and Native Oregano, common names can be conflicting with the botanical name, but they do give the user something to relate back to what they know. Native Basil has a Marjorim/basil flavour and is a great addition to your pantry. Once you get used to using it on any pasta sauce you might make, or even in a bread with perhaps some native pepper, mixed in with a creamy cheese, the uses are endless, just limited by your imagination. Some, like River Mint Mentha australis have a strong spearmint taste and aroma, whereas the Round-leaf or Bush Mint is more like your traditional mint with a slight aromatic edge. The early settlers used Australian native mints to make mint sauce for their Sunday roast lamb. This native bushfood herb is just as versitile as the traditional mints and can be replaced by them, use a little until you get used to the strong minty flavour.
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Is Peppermint Gum food for you?
The leaves of the Peppermint Gum have been prized for its strong flavour and aroma for centuries.
From the original inhabitants of Australia to present day it's known for it's ability to aid digestion, help to reduce nausea, can potentially relieve headaches as well as a breath freshener. It can also be used topically to soothe skin irritations and help with muscle aches. This bushfood herb is a great bush medicine for coughs and colds, just put some in hot water and enhale the fumes.Peppermint Gum is a robust herb, both fresh and dried, and packs a punch.
These dried and milled leaves can be used to flavour any dish that requires a peppermint edge. This bush botanical is now used by many Australian chefs as well as in the distilling industry to give a distinctly Australian flavoured drink. -
NATIVE PEPPERLEAF, Tasmannia lanceolata
Soft, peppery, earthy and aromatic
Wild Australian Pepper, both the leaf and berries, come from the alpine areas of Tasmania and North East Victoria. They are from the same bush. The pepperberries are super hot and usually heat or freeze dried.
For the most part native pepper is still wild harvested the bought back to the farm for sorting, cleaning, drying and milling. Whilst it is increasingly grown on private properties it is still harvested on Crown Land, where permits need to be applied for. The leaves of the native pepper plant can be used either fresh or dried. They are often milled to a fine powder and can be directly replace your normal pepper. Use these on a daily basis and you'll learn to love the peppery, slightly eucalypt flavour, uniquely Australian and a touch of the bush! Australian native pepper is packed with anti oxidants and has great stomach settling properties. Read more about the health giving aspects of Australian pepper Many home cooks, chef, food producers and schools are now using native pepper on a daily basis. It is sold both nationally and internationally with the international market growing quickly. -
Australian Pepperberries add a flavour punch to your grinder with this peppery combo Tasmanian Pepperberries join forces with Green, Pink, White and Black Peppercorns to create a high-spirited palette of colour and flavour for more lively, aromatic excitement.
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Wattleseed when it's roasted and milled has a beautiful nutty, chocolate, coffee flavour and aroma. Originally we used to use Acacia victoriae, now many more are being roasted for culinary use and their flavours are every bit as nice as Acacia vic. Wattleseed has fast become one of the most popular of the Australian native herbs, when you try for yourself you'll understand why.
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I love all things liquorice or aniseed and Anise myrtle is just that in Australian native herb form
Known lovingly as Aniseed myrtle, this dried and milled leaf is a fantastic addition to any dish requiring an aniseed flavour. Use instead of Star Anise or even Pernod. The flavour diminishes if you cook too long, so like with many herbs add to your dish at the end of the cooking, this Australian native dried leaf won't disappoint. A great addition to a salad, Thai style food or seafood. If you love "all things" aniseed, which I do, Anise myrtle is a great one to have in your kitchen pantry Remember, as with all herbs and spices, whilst they look fantastic on show in the kitchen, the best place to store it is in a dry, dark, cool space. -
Australian native Strawberry Gum is used by both culinary and distilling companies
Loved for its distinct fruity berry-eucalypt spicy flavour and aroma
The beautiful leaf of the Strawberry Gum, Eucalyptus olida, can be used both fresh and dried. Jams, desserts, baked goods as well as in teas, its a delicious native herb to get to know.Just after the 2nd World War it was used to create cordials. Its unique flavour was a component in perfumes and household disinfectants.Cooking, especially in creamy desserts this Australian native herb really shines, try making a Panna Cotta and adding some Strawberry Gum, its a real crowd pleaser. Don't use too much, as with most Australian natives they are strong. Get to know the flavour you want and let it work its magic.I've often used it in cooking vegetables like sweet potatoes in foil. Just chop up the sweet potatoes, lay on foil, a light cover of olive oil, some salt and ground pepperberry, then a little strawberry gum, cook in oven and serve.Strawberry Gum Tea
Cheese cakes, jams or teas or even add to your pot pourri, this fragrant bush leaf, once used, will always be a popular in your pantry.Is Strawberry healthy for you?
The leaves have a high concentration of essential oils, they are a great antioxidant and have anti fungal and antibiotic properties. -
Hand-cut quandong stones or seeds for craft-work or cultivating. These have all been hand-cut so there is no blemishes on the stones at all. Quandongs are a native to Australia, they prosper in a hot dry climate. Many of the quandong stones are now machine cut to get the fruit off the stone, this often impacts on the stone themselves with cut marks. All stones that I have available have been carefully hand-cut. -
Lemon Myrtle leaves dried & milled
showing are fresh leaves & flowers before the leaves are processed, then they are processed according to customer needs. ie a fine powder or to a tea leaf size. -
How to use Australian Pepperberries
These amazing little dried black Pepperberries pack a really "really" hot chilli punch
So many times when giving cooking demo's or talking about native edibles, sending around samples for people to smell and try. Pepperberries are the one thing that I advise not to try, but of course, there's always someone!...and then I'm treated to the drama of watering eyes and a hand trying to fan out a burning mouth. Yes, pepperberries really pack a punch! These little guys are really hot hot hot, it firsts hits on the tip of your tongue which goes numb...good party trick I guess if you're feeling that way! But saying that, pepperberries are a great substitute for the normal, and much loved, black peppercorns. What's not to like?Are Pepperberries good for you?
Yes, they have some outstanding health benefits.
Pepperberries are rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants help protect cells from free radicals which can contribute various diseases. Pepperberries could help to prevent onset of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers. They could also help with anti-inflammatory conditions. Pepperberries have proven antimicrobial activity. This can help fight harmful bacteria and infection.Polygodial is the main flavor component and has been shown to have antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
They contain Vitamin E, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Lutein ( good for eye health), and Zinc.Traditionally pepperberries were used to help with digestionInterestingly Pepperberries can enhance collagen production. Collagen is such a big buzz work at the moment with many people taking extra collegan in tablet and drink form to improve skin health and stop "age-defying" conditions. These little berries can help to increase hydration for anyone aiming for a clear, healthy skin.For more interesting reading on Australian Native Pepperberries go to the Agrifutures reportFor something a little different, but totally delicious, try Roasted wattleseed and Pepperberry Chai MochaFor tea drinkers our Roasted Wattleseed and Pepperberry Chai TeaTea comes in pyramid shaped tea bags and with 100% sustainable packaging, it makes a great gift idea or a treat for yourself. -
Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citroidora ... the "Queen" of the bushfood industry
This wonderful Australian native herb has been used for food, in cosmetics, insect repellants as bush medicine and much more. Probably the best known bush herb, the leaf has a strong lemon citrus flavour and aroma, great for adding some great flavour to any dish. To learn more about Lemon Myrtle, how to use it, how it grows, is it healthy for you, the history of lemon myrtle.
