Australian Bush Foods- Lemon Myrtle Jane Aungles, Naomi Bishop, Gabby Wong, Imogen Posa

Growing regions of lemon Myrtle

• Limited area where lemon myrtle naturally grows

(this region shown in red area)• Between Brisbane and

Rockhampton at an altitude no higher than 800m above sea level

• Now with European settlement lemon I now being farmed, in areas often further south of this region

Traditional Areas & Tribes• Rainforest and eastern

cape areas of north-eastern Australia

• These are regions of Australia; native Australian states, made up of indigenous tribes

• Tribes such as barabam, djabugandji, inawongga, Nawagi, used lemon myrtle in traditional foods

Traditional uses of lemon Myrtle • The leaves can be used for fresh or dried, it will be

use of making lemon & lime oil and they can be used for cooking, like: lemon tea, bread.

• Australian aboriginals long used it in cuisine and as a healing plant. As Lemon Myrtle contain Citral and has anti-bacterial properties, it is use for healing wounds,  they wrapped the leaves over wounds to help with the healing process.

• Aboriginals also made it to oil as it has a high purity, and is considered as a " cleaner and sweeter"

Nutritional value

Nutritional value Per 100g Energy (kj) 1521

Protein (g) 8.7

Fat (total)(g) 2

Carbohydrate (g) 74.7

Sugars (g) 2.9

Sodium (mg) 42

Potassium (mg) 79

  • Lemon Myrtle is a native

Australian herb.• Lemon myrtle contributes to the

health of the individual through contributing a variety of nutrients as can be seen in the table below.

• The herb enhances flavor. •  It is a good source of protein. • The contribution of

carbohydrates is high.• Good source of energy. 

Skills of Obtaining, Preparing, and cooking

• As Lemon Myrtle is a of 2-3 metres plant, aboriginals usually obtain those leaves by hand by using 'Coolamon dish', which is a utensil used predominately by women to carry water and food. They may also use 'Dilly Bags 'which are made form from different types of grasses, it is used  to collect and dried those leaves.

•  Indigenous  people used it with their cooking by using the branches in ground ovens they baked foods with lemon myrtle

• Lemon myrtle oil can be extracted from the leaves and used to flavour foods and for medicinal purposes. The leaves can also be soaked in boiling water (infused) to make a refreshing drink.

Recipe Adaption

• Traditional pancake recipe • Lemon myrtle added to pancake batter, and drizzled with lemon myrtle maple syrup • Lemon myrtle gave dish a

citrusy kick• Colour added to the dish with

ice cream, strawberries and raspberries

• wide range of textures, and flavours

Bibliography • Surrender, 2009, Aboriginal Map of Australia, viewed 10 September, 2011, <

http://surrender.org.au/community/resources/aboriginal-map-of-australia/>.• Taste.com, 2011, Traditional Pancakes, viewed 10 September, 2011, <

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/16348/traditional+pancakes+with+maple+syrup+butter+strawberries>.

• Wikipedia, 2011, List of Indigenous Australian group names, viewed 10 September, 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indigenous_Australian_group_names>.

• Gourmet Shopper, , LEMON MYRTLE LEAF WHOLE 2g, viewed 10 September, 2011, <http://www.gourmetshopper.com.au/shop/product.php?productid=665>.

• UniServe Science, 2010, Lemon myrtle, viewed 29 August, 2011, <http://sydney.edu.au/science/uniserve_science/school/curric/stage4_5/nativeplants/gallery/lemonmyrtle/index.html>.

• Wikipedia, 2011, Backhousia citriodora, viewed 27 August, 2011,<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhousia_citriodora#Lemon_myrtle_history>.

•  • Wildcrafted, 2011, Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), viewed 27 August, 2011,<

http://www.wildcrafted.com.au/Lemon_Myrtle.html>. •  • Bush Tuckers, 2011, What is Bush Food?, viewed 27 August, 2011,<

http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/bushtucker/>. •  • Anfil, 2011, Lemon myrtle, viewed 27 August, 2011,<http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/bushtucker/>.