Discover the Power of Australian Native Ingredients: Australia’s Wild Superfoods

🌿 Discover Australian Native Ingredients

What Are Native Ingredients?

Native ingredients are foods and botanicals that have grown naturally in Australia for tens of thousands of years. Often referred to as bush foods or Indigenous ingredients, they have been harvested and used by Aboriginal communities for their incredible flavour, medicinal properties, and cultural significance.

Today, these ingredients are making waves in the culinary and wellness worlds — not only for their bold, unique tastes but also for their dense nutritional profiles and environmental benefits.

Why Choose Australian Native Ingredients?

1. 🌱 Uniquely Australian Flavours
   From the citrusy zing of Finger Lime to the tart punch of Davidson Plum, native Australian fruits bring a fresh edge to recipes. These flavours are difficult to replicate and are highly sought after in gourmet cooking and mixology.
2. 💪 Nutritional Powerhouses
   Many native ingredients are classified as superfoods due to their high levels of antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, and minerals. For example, Lemon Aspen is rich in antioxidants, while Davidson Plum is packed with anthocyanins that support skin and heart health.
3. 🌏 Sustainability and Regeneration
   Sourcing native foods encourages biodiversity and supports regenerative agriculture. Many are grown using organic or biodynamic principles with a low environmental footprint.
4. 🤝 Support Indigenous Knowledge and Farming
   Working with native ingredients is a way to honour Aboriginal knowledge and support ethical growers across Australia.

Our Top 25 Favourite Native Ingredients

Davidson Plum (Davidsonia jerseyana)
Davidson Plum is a vibrant, deep-purple fruit known for its tart, berry-like flavour. It's rich in antioxidants, anthocyanins, and vitamin E, making it both a delicious and nutritious addition to your pantry. Commonly used in smoothies, desserts, sauces, and even cocktails, it's a favourite among chefs looking for a bold native twist.
👉 Shop Davidson Plum Powder

Finger Lime (Citrus australasica)
Often called “citrus caviar,” Finger Lime is a native citrus fruit that bursts with tangy, juicy pearls inside its skin. These vesicles add an exciting texture and a zesty pop to seafood, cocktails, and desserts. Finger Lime is also high in vitamin C and antioxidants.
👉 Explore Finger Lime Products

Lemon Aspen (Acronychia acidula)
Lemon Aspen offers a sharp, tangy flavour with subtle herbal notes, reminiscent of grapefruit and lemongrass. It's often used in sauces, relishes, and dressings. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
👉 Try Lemon Aspen Fruit or Powder

Riberry (Syzygium luehmannii)
Riberry has a spicy, clove-like flavour with hints of cranberry. It's perfect for syrups, jams, and sauces, and rich in folate, manganese, and antioxidants
👉 Discover Riberry

Bunya Nuts (Araucaria bidwillii)
From the ancient Bunya Pine, these nuts are mildly sweet and starchy. Great roasted or mashed into doughs. High in protein and carbohydrates.
👉 All about Bunya Nuts

River Mint (Mentha australis)
River Mint is a native herb with a fresh, sweet mint flavour and a soft, earthy aroma. It can be used fresh in salads or steeped in teas, sauces, and desserts. Unlike peppermint, it’s milder and blends beautifully with fruit, chocolate, and even lamb or kangaroo dishes.
👉 River Mint - Australia's refreshing herb

Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Kakadu Plum contains one of the highest natural concentrations of vitamin C in the world — over 100 times more than oranges. This tart, fibrous fruit is used in health supplements, jams, sauces, and skincare.
👉 Kakadu Plum - Healthline

Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)
Quandong, or desert peach, has a bright red skin and tangy, peach-like flavour. It's high in vitamin E, folate, and zinc and is widely used in jams, pies, and chutneys.
👉 Quandong - ABC Education

Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Rosella flowers are a species of hibiscus with a bold, tart flavour, similar to cranberry. The vibrant red calyxes are commonly used in jams, herbal teas, chutneys, and syrups.
👉 Rosella - The Alembics Lab

Muntries (Kunzea pomifera)
Muntries are tiny berries with a unique flavour profile, combining the sweetness of apple with subtle spice. These antioxidant-rich berries are ideal for snacking, baking, or making jams and preserves.
👉 Muntries - Wikipedia

Desert Lime (Citrus glauca)
Desert Lime has an intense citrus flavour, with a zesty punch and a slightly bitter finish. It's often used in dressings, glazes, marmalades, and sauces.
👉 Desert Lime - Wikipedia

Strawberry Gum (Eucalyptus olida)
Strawberry Gum, from the eucalyptus family, imparts a sweet berry and bubblegum aroma. It's used to flavour custards, cakes, syrups, and even kombucha.
👉 Strawberry Gum - Wikipedia

Aniseed Myrtle (Syzygium anisatum)
Aniseed Myrtle has a sweet, licorice-like flavour and is highly aromatic. Ideal for desserts, teas, sauces, and even cocktails, it adds a distinct anise profile to both sweet and savoury creations.
👉 Aniseed Myrtle - Wikipedia

Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
Lemon Myrtle is perhaps the most well-known Australian native herb, offering a strong citrus fragrance and flavour. It’s used in teas, spice blends, marinades, cleaning products, and skincare.
👉 Lemon Myrtle - Wikipedia

Cinnamon Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia)
With a flavour similar to cinnamon and bay leaf, Cinnamon Myrtle adds warmth to both savoury and sweet dishes. It’s commonly used in sauces, stews, cakes, and teas.
👉 Cinnamon Myrtle - Wikipedia

Pepper Leaf (Tasmannia lanceolata)
Mountain Pepper has a hot, peppery taste and can be used as a spice or in dried leaf form. It’s great for seasoning meats, vegetables, and savoury baking.
👉 Mountain Pepper - Wikipedia

Peppermint Gum (Eucalyptus radiata)
Peppermint Gum offers a fresh, cooling mint flavour with hints of eucalyptus. Often used in desserts, teas, and refreshing syrups.
👉 Peppermint Gum - Wikipedia

Wattleseed (Acacia spp.)
Wattleseed has a nutty, roasted coffee-like flavour with hints of chocolate and hazelnut. Used in bread, cakes, ice cream, and coffee substitutes.
👉 Wattleseed - Wikipedia

Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides)
Also called native spinach, Warrigal Greens are a resilient, leafy green that thrives in coastal areas. They have a mild, slightly salty taste and are commonly used in place of English spinach.
👉 Warrigal Greens - Gardening With Angus

Native Thyme (Prostanthera incisa)
Native Thyme is an aromatic herb with minty and peppery undertones. It has long been used in Aboriginal cooking and traditional medicines.
👉 Native Thyme - Australian Plants Society NSW

Coastal Pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens)
Pigface is a succulent with fleshy leaves and vibrant, edible berries that offer a salty-sweet flavour. The leaves are also edible and can be pickled or sautéed.
👉 Pigface - Australian National Botanic Gardens

Bush Basil (Plectranthus graveolens)
Native Basil has a robust, peppery flavour with notes of mint, spice, and clove. It adds a punch to tomato dishes, savoury sauces, marinades, and grilled meats.
👉 Native Basil - Whipbird Enviromental

Midyim Berry (Austromyrtus dulcis)
Midyim Berries are small, speckled native fruits with a sweet, tangy taste. They are used in jams, syrups, baked goods, and salads.
👉 Midyim Berry - Gardening With Angus

Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
Saltbush is a hardy shrub whose leaves are naturally salty and rich in minerals. The leaves can be roasted, sautéed, or dried and crumbled as a native seasoning.
👉 Saltbush - Wikipedia

Bush Tomato (Solanum centrale)
Also known as desert raisin, Bush Tomato is a small, round fruit with a strong savoury flavour, often described as tangy, caramelised, and earthy. Traditionally used by Aboriginal communities, it’s commonly dried and used in spice blends and sauces.
👉 Bush Tomato - ABC Education

How to Use Native Ingredients in Everyday Cooking

• Smoothies: Add native fruit powders to boost colour and antioxidants.
• Cocktails: Rim your glass with Davidson Plum powder or add Finger Lime pearls for a burst of flavour.
• Sauces & Dressings: Incorporate Lemon Aspen or Riberry for an earthy, citrusy twist.
• Baking: Replace traditional fruits with native options for a gourmet, local upgrade.

Where to Buy Native Ingredients

At Naturally Native, we offer a wide range of freeze-dried powders, frozen fruits, and fresh native ingredients grown on our own farm using organic principles. Whether you're a chef, home cook, or health enthusiast, our products are:

• Ethically grown
• Sustainably harvested
• Packed with nutrients
• 100% Australian

👉 Browse All Native Ingredients

Final Thoughts

Australian native ingredients are more than just trendy superfoods — they’re a powerful way to reconnect with the land, honour Indigenous traditions, and support sustainable farming. Whether you're blending a smoothie, mixing a cocktail, or creating your next gourmet dish, these bold bush flavours will take your recipes to the next level.