Australian herbs and spices were used by

Aboriginal peoples Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

to flavour food in ground ovens. The term "spice" is applied generally to the non-leafy range of strongly flavoured dried Australian

bushfood Bush tucker, also called bush food, is any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by Indigenous Australians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but it can also describe any native flora or fauna used for culinary or ...

s. They mainly consist of

aroma An odor (American English) or odour ( Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds that are generally found in low concentrations that humans and animals can perceive via their se ...

tic fruits and seed products, although Australian wild peppers also have spicy leaves. There are also a few aromatic leaves but unlike culinary herbs from other cultures which often come from small soft-stemmed

forb A forb or phorb is an herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush). The term is used in biology and in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands and understory. Typically these are dicots without woo ...

s, the Australian herb species are generally trees from rainforests, open forests and woodlands. Australian herbs and spices are generally dried and ground to produce a powdered or flaked spice, either used as a single ingredient or in blends. They were used to a limited extent by colonists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some extracts were used as

flavouring A flavoring (or flavouring), also known as flavor (or flavour) or flavorant, is a food additive used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of the gus ...

during the 20th century. Australian native spices have become more widely recognized and used by non-indigenous people since the early 1980s as part of the bushfood industry, with increasing

gourmet Gourmet (, ) is a cultural idea associated with the culinary arts of fine food and drink, or haute cuisine, which is characterized by refined, even elaborate preparations and presentations of aesthetically balanced meals of several contrasting, of ...

use and export. They can also be used as a fresh product. Leaves can be used whole, like a bay-leaf in cooking, or spicy fruits are added to various dishes for flavour. The distilled essential oils from leaves and twigs are also used as

products.

Fruit

* ''

Acronychia acidula ''Acronychia acidula'', commonly known as lemon aspen or lemon wood, is a species of small to medium-sized rainforest tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has simple, elliptical leaves, small groups of flowers in leaf axils and more or less s ...

'', Lemon Aspen * '' Acronychia oblongifolia'', White Aspen, Yellow Wood * ''

Austromyrtus dulcis ''Austromyrtus dulcis'' is a species of plant native to eastern Australia. it grows as a small spreading shrub and is easily recognised by its characteristic berries that usually ripen in summer and autumn. Common names include the midgen berry, ...

'', Midgen Berry, Silky Myrtle * ''

Citrus australasica ''Citrus australasica'', the Australian finger lime or caviar lime, is a thorny understorey shrub or small tree of lowland subtropical rainforest and rainforest in the coastal border region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It has e ...

'',

Finger Lime ''Citrus australasica'', the Australian finger lime or caviar lime, is a thorny understorey shrub or small tree of lowland subtropical rainforest and rainforest in the coastal border region of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It has ed ...

, Caviar Lime * ''

Citrus australis ''Citrus australis'', the Dooja, round lime, Australian lime or Australian round lime, is a large shrub or small tree producing an edible fruit. It grows in forest margins in the Beenleigh area and northwards, in Queensland, Australia ...

'', Round Lime, Australian Lime * '' Citrus glauca'',

Desert Lime ''Citrus glauca'', commonly known as the desert lime, is a thorny shrub or small tree native to Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia.Burkill, Isaac Henry. 1932. Gardens' Bulletin, Straits Settlements 5 (Index): 3. ''Citrus glauca''. ...

* ''

Eupomatia laurina ''Eupomatia laurina'', commonly named bolwarra, native guava or copper laurel, is a species of plant in the primitive flowering-plant family Eupomatiaceae, endemic to Australia and New Guinea. It grows to between tall, but larger specimens m ...

'', Bolwarra, Native Guava, Copper Laurel * '' Kunzea pomifera'', Muntries, Emu Apples, Native Cranberries * ''

Solanum centrale ''Solanum centrale'', the kutjera, or Australian desert raisin, is a plant native to the more arid parts of Australia. Like other "bush tomatoes", it has been used as a food source by Central Australia and Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal grou ...

'', Akudjura, Australian Desert Raisin * '' Solanum chippendalei'', Chippendale's Tomato, Bush Tomato * '' Solanum cleistogamum'', Potato Bush, Bush Tomato * '' Syzygium luehmannii'',

Riberry ''Syzygium luehmannii'' is a medium-sized coastal rainforest tree native to Australia. Common names include riberry, small leaved lilly pilly, cherry satinash, cherry alder, or clove lilli pilli. The habitat is Australian riverine, littoral, su ...

, Cherry Alder, Small Leaf Lilly Pilly

Herbs

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Apium insulare ''Apium insulare'', Flinders Island celery, or Island celery is a herb of the Bass Strait islands, and Lord Howe Island, Australia. It is a member of the Apiaceae (carrot family. It was first described by Philip Short Philip Short (born ...

'', Flinders Island Celery * ''

Apium prostratum ''Apium prostratum'', commonly known as sea celery, is a variable herb native to coastal Australia and New Zealand. The leaves are variable, with toothed leaflets, and a celery like aroma. The tiny white flowers occur in clusters. There are tw ...

'', Sea Celery * ''

Atherosperma Moschatum ''Atherosperma moschatum'', the southern sassafras or blackheart sassafras, is an evergreen tree native to the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales in Australia. It is common in the rainforests of Tasmania and Vic ...

'',

safrole Safrole is an organic compound with the formula CH2O2C6H3CH2CH=CH2. It is a colorless oily liquid, although impure samples can appear yellow. A member of the phenylpropanoid family of natural products, it is found in sassafras plants, among oth ...

, Southern Sassafras * '' Atriplex nummularia'', Old Man Salt Bush * ''

Backhousia citriodora ''Backhousia citriodora'' (common names lemon myrtle, lemon scented myrtle, lemon scented ironwood) is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, genus ''Backhousia''. It is endemic to subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensl ...

'',

citral Citral is an acyclic monoterpene aldehyde, and being a monoterpene, it is made of two isoprene units. Citral is a collective term which covers two geometric isomers that have their own separate names; the ''E''-isomer is named geranial (''trans' ...

chemovar, Lemon Myrtle * ''

Backhousia myrtifolia ''Backhousia myrtifolia'' (commonly referred to as ''carrol, neverbreak, iron wood, grey myrtle'' or ''cinnamon myrtle'') is a small rainforest tree species which grows in subtropical rainforests of Eastern Australia. First discovered and subs ...

'',

elemicin Elemicin is a phenylpropene, a natural organic compound, and is a constituent of several plant species' essential oils. Natural occurrence Elemicin is a constituent of the oleoresin and the essential oil of ''Canarium luzonicum'' (also referred ...

chemovar,

Cinnamon Myrtle ''Backhousia myrtifolia'' (commonly referred to as ''carrol, neverbreak, iron wood, grey myrtle'' or ''cinnamon myrtle'') is a small rainforest tree species which grows in subtropical rainforests of Eastern Australia. First discovered and subs ...

* ''

Boronia safrolifera ''Boronia safrolifera'', commonly known as safrole boronia, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, woody shrub with pinnate leaves that have up to nineteen leaflets, and white to pink, four-petalled f ...

* '' Crowea exalata, exalaticin * ''

Cinnamomum oliveri ''Cinnamomum oliveri'' is a rainforest tree growing at the eastern coastal parts of Australia. It grows from the Illawarra district (34° S) in New South Wales to Cape York Peninsula at the northern tip of Australia. The southernmost limit of nat ...

'',

, Oliver's Cinnamon * '' Cymbopogon refractus'', Barbed wire grass * ''

Doryphora sassafras ''Doryphora sassafras'', commonly known as sassafras, yellow-, canary- or golden sassafras, or golden deal, is a species of evergreen tree of the family Atherospermataceae native to the subtropical and temperate rainforests of eastern New South ...

'',

* '' Doryphora aromatica'',

* ''

Eucalyptus dives ''Eucalyptus dives'', commonly known as the broad-leaved peppermint or blue peppermint, is a species of tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, finely fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, lance- ...

'',

piperitone Piperitone is a natural monoterpene ketone which is a component of some essential oils. Both stereoisomers, the D-form and the L-form, are known. The D-form has a peppermint-like aroma and has been isolated from the oils of plants from the ge ...

chemovar, Peppermint Gum * ''

Eucalyptus globulus ''Eucalyptus globulus'', commonly known as southern blue gum or blue gum, is a species of tall, evergreen tree endemic to southeastern Australia. This ''Eucalyptus'' species has mostly smooth bark, juvenile leaves that are whitish and waxy on ...

'',

cineole Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eucal ...

chemovar, Tasmanian Blue Gum * ''

Eucalyptus olida ''Eucalyptus olida'' is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales, Australia. It has rough, flaky and fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower ...

'',

methyl cinnamate Methyl cinnamate is the methyl ester of cinnamic acid and is a white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is found naturally in a variety of plants, including in fruits, like strawberry, and some culinary spices, such as Sichuan ...

chemovar, Strawberry Gum * ''

Eucalyptus polybractea ''Eucalyptus polybractea'', commonly known as the blue-leaved mallee or simply blue mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the lower part of the trunk, smooth greyish o ...

'', Blue-leaved Mallee * ''

Eucalyptus staigeriana ''Eucalyptus staigeriana'', commonly known as the lemon-scented ironbark, is a species of small ironbark tree that is endemic to the Cape York Peninsula. It has rough ironbark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves that sme ...

'', Lemon Ironbark * ''

Melaleuca quinquenervia ''Melaleuca quinquenervia'', commonly known as the broad-leaved paperbark, paper bark tea tree, punk tree or niaouli, is a small- to medium-sized tree of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It grows as a spreading tree up to tall, with its trunk co ...

'', Broad-leaf Paperbark * '' Melaleuca leucadendron'', Weeping Paperbark * ''

Mentha australis ''Mentha australis'' is known by the common names of river mint, native mint, native peppermint, and Australian mint. It is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha''. It is a native of eastern Australia, occurring in every state and territory ...

'', River Mint * '' Mentha diemenica'', Slender Mint * ''

Mentha satureioides ''Mentha satureioides'', commonly known as native pennyroyal or creeping mint, is a species of herbaceous perennial native to southern + eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia South Australia (commonly abbr ...

'' * ''

Ocimum tenuiflorum ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...

'', Holy Basil * '' Prostanthera incisa'' var. ''incisa'', Cut-leaf Mintbush * '' Prostanthera rotundifolia'', Native Thyme * '' Syzygium anisatum'', trans-E-Anethole chemovar,

Aniseed myrtle :''Should not be confused with Clausena anisata, a small tree native to Southeast Asia and Australia.'' ''Syzygium anisatum'', with common names ringwood and aniseed tree, is a rare Australian rainforest tree with an aromatic leaf that has an e ...

* ''

Zieria smithii ''Zieria smithii'', commonly known as sandfly zieria, lanoline bush or Smithian zieria, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia. It is a robust shrub with its leaves composed of three leaf ...

'',

Spices

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Acacia victoriae ''Acacia victoriae'', commonly known as gundabluie or bardi bush, is a shrub-like tree native to Australia. Subspecies: ''A. victoriae'' subsp. ''arida'' Pedley Distribution and ecology Found in arid and semi-arid areas, the ''Acacia victoria ...

'', Gundabluey,

Wattleseed Wattleseeds are the edible seeds from any of 120 species of Australian '' Acacia'' that were traditionally used as food by Aboriginal Australians, and eaten either green (and cooked) or dried (and milled to a flour) to make a type of bush bread ...

* '' Alpinia caerulea'', Native Ginger * '' Tasmannia lanceolata'', Mountain Pepper * ''

Tasmannia stipitata ''Tasmannia stipitata'', commonly known as the Dorrigo pepper or northern pepperbush is a rainforest shrub of temperate forests of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Leaves are fragrant, narrow-lanceolate to narrow-elliptic ...

'',

Dorrigo Pepper ''Tasmannia stipitata'', commonly known as the Dorrigo pepper or northern pepperbush is a rainforest shrub of temperate forests of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Leaves are fragrant, narrow-lanceolate to narrow-elliptic, ...

* '' Tasmannia insipida'', Brush Pepper Bush * '' Tasmannia xerophila'', Alpine Pepperbush

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Herbs And Spices Lists of plants Gardening lists Bushfood Flora of Australia Herbs And Spices Spices Herbs