Australian Wattleseed

There are so many species of wattle trees in Australia, most of them have edible seeds.  Known as acaia, the wattle tree species is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia with approximately 1000 different species.  Throughout the world there is about 1350 species.

Is wattleseed good for you?

Wattleseed is still harvested by hand

Like so many of our Australian native herbs and spice, the seeds are wild-harvested by hand.  This is an extremely labor intensive job and goes towards the reason it’s so costly.  If you are considering harvesting wattleseeds and using these seeds yourself please make sure you are using an edible species.  Unless its on your own property check with the local council if you are able to harvest them, this includes parks, your local street and along roadsides.  Permits and permission is required.

How do I get wattleseed and how do I use it?

There are a few way to get wattleseed.  One is to simply purchase it online.  Another option, if you’re really keen to get wattleseed, is to harvest it yourself!!

Wattleseeds are generally harvested in December/January in Australia, this can vary according to the seasons.  The pods are picked from the trees once they are dried.  They then open when they mature and the seeds drop out.  I’ve harvested the pods and left in a brown paper bag and the seeds drop to the bottom.  The seeds are then separated from the pods and cleaned to get rid of all the sticks etc.

Next step is the roasting, really just like coffee, the raw seeds are carefully roasted to develop the flavour and then milled to a fine powder for culinary use.

Sounds quick and easy I know, but its a job and a half, although once the final product, where the wattleseed is ready for use,  is sensational.

The picture I have shows 2 species, the one on the left is A.victoriae and the one in the oval dishes are both A.baileyana before and after roasting.

How to roast Wattleseed

Before using the wattleseed in your recipes the seeds need to be roasted.  Just like coffee wattleseed needs careful roasting.  It can be light, medium or dark roasted.  I usually do a medium to slightly darker roast.

I use a pan with a glass lid so that I can see what’s happening.  A.victoriae really needs a lid on as the seeds, once they get hot, pop; just like popcorn and can go everywhere, like little red hot missiles aiming where ever they land!  A.baileyana is a little more considerate, I don’t usually need the lid on when they get super hot, there is an element of popping but they don’t seem as bad.

Roasting wattleseed isn’t a job for your children as its a hot pan and the product, as I mentioned, is really hot can go everywhere.

I use a wooden spoon or spatula to continuously move the wattleseeds around the pan so that they don’t burn.  Its not something you can leave alone!

Plenty of people have asked if you can roast the wattleseeds in an oven, I’ve never done that as the seeds need to be properly roasted on all sides, even though they’re tiny, they still need the proper attention.

Once they’ve achieved your desired roast, this is a definate change in colour, and with both there is a popping of the seeds, they’re pretty much there.  This is something that working with the wattleseeds you can measure yourself.

Milling wattleseed ready to use

Spread the seeds out and leave to cool.  Wattleseeds contain oil and if you try and mill them when they’re still warm they just don’t mill down as well….yep, I’ve tried it when I’ve needed it in a hurry…just doesn’t work!

The best thing to mill the roasted seeds is a coffee grinder.  Coffee grinders do the job perfectly, right down to a useable powder.  I havn’t had the same success with spice grinders, they’re fine with dried leaves, but not so good with wattleseeds.  Once they are milled to a powder then the wattleseed is ready to use.

Try our Wattleseed Tiramasu, a winner at any dinner party 

Chocolate and wattleseed mousse made with bananas and avocado …. simply delicious

Wattleseed & Pepperberry Chai Tea

Roasted Wattleseed & Pepperberry Chai Mocha

RECIPE FOR CHOC CHIP COOKIES WITH WATTLESEED

Easy to make cookie recipe with wattleseed and simply delicious

1 3/4 cups plain flour

150g butter

1/3 cup white sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup Choc Chips

15g Wattleseed

1teaspoon vanilla

Method

Heat oven to 180C

Cream together butter, sugar, wattleseed

Add eggs and vanilla

Add flour and choc chips and mix together

Form into balls the size of walnuts and place on baking tray lined with baking paper

Wet two fingers and slightly press the top of the ball to flatten

Cook for approx 20 minutes, until brown on top

Leave to cook slightly, they will firm on cooling.

Makes approx 24 cookies