Bush Tucker and Native Foods

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have eaten native plants and animals across this continent for tens of thousands of years, and the knowledge of which species are edible, when, and how they must be prepared is specific to each country and still held by its people. A small number of those foods have entered the wider market: macadamia, the one native crop grown at commercial scale worldwide, plus finger lime, quandong, wattleseed, lemon myrtle, saltbush, bush tomato and Kakadu plum. Kangaroo and emu are sold as meat in supermarkets. Guided walks run near Alice Springs, Darwin and in Queensland, usually led by Aboriginal guides who explain the plants on their own country rather than as a general list.

What you actually see

• Guided walks on country - Aboriginal guides identifying plants and their preparation where they actually grow.
• Native ingredients in city markets - finger lime, wattleseed, lemon myrtle and saltbush sold dried or fresh.
• Kangaroo and emu - native meats sold in ordinary supermarkets, lean and easily overcooked.
• Kakadu plum and quandong - desert and tropical fruits used in preserves, drinks and sauces.

When to go

The dry season, roughly May to September, is when guided walks in the centre and the north are comfortable and roads are open. Different plants fruit at different times, so what you see depends entirely on the month. City restaurants using native ingredients operate year-round. Tours in remote areas need booking ahead and sometimes run only in season.

Honest expectations

Much of what is marketed as bush tucker is a garnish on a conventional dish rather than traditional food. Prices for native ingredients are high because harvests are small and often wild-collected. Only a minority of the native food industry is Aboriginal-owned, an active concern within it. Do not forage yourself: several native plants are toxic without correct preparation, and much of the land is under permit.

Nearby

Central Australia around Alice Springs and the tropical Top End are the main places to learn on country.