Bushfood 3204439 226023464 2008-07-16T14:11:25Z 58.168.30.192 /* Modern use */ [[Image:Alice_Springs4260.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Alice Springs Desert Park, Bush Tucker]] '''Bushfood''' (also called '''bush tucker''') refers to any food native to [[Australia]] and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants, the [[Indigenous Australians|Australian Aborigines]], although it is sometimes used with the specific connotation of "food found in the [[Outback]] while living on the land". It includes both animal and plant foods native to Australia. Examples of Australian native animal foods (meats) include [[Kangaroo (meat)|kangaroo]], [[emu]] and [[crocodile]]. In particular, kangaroo is quite common and can be found in many normal supermarkets at prices comparable to beef. Other animals, for example [[goanna]] and [[witchetty grub]]s, were eaten by [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] Australians and thus qualify as bushfood in every sense of the word. [[Fish]] and [[shellfish]] are culinary features of the Australian coastal communities. Examples of Australian native plant foods include the fruits: [[quandong]], [[Solanum centrale|kutjera]], [[muntries]], [[riberry]], [[Davidsonia|Davidson's plum]], and [[Finger Lime|finger lime]]. Native spices include [[lemon myrtle]], [[Tasmannia|mountain pepper]], and [[aniseed myrtle]]. A popular leafy vegetable is [[warrigal greens]]. Nuts include [[bunya nut]], and the most identifiable bushfood plant harvested and sold in large scale commercial quantities is the [[macadamia]] nut. Knowledge of Aboriginal uses of [[fungi]] is meagre but [[Fistulina hepatica|beefsteak fungus]] and [[Laccocephalum mylittae|native 'bread']] were certainly eaten. ==Traditional Aboriginal use== [[Australian Aborigines]] have eaten native animal and plant foods for an estimated 60,000 years of human habitation on the Australian continent (''see [[Indigenous Australian food groups]], [[Australian Aboriginal sweet foods]])''. Various traditional methods of processing and cooking are used. Toxic seeds, such as [[Cycas|''Cycas media'']] and [[Castanospermum|Moreton Bay chestnut]] are processed to remove the toxins and render them safe to eat. Many foods are also baked in the hot campfire coals, or baked for several hours in ground ovens. ‘[[Paperbark]]’, the bark of ''[[Melaleuca]]'' species, is widely used for wrapping food placed in ground ovens. [[Bush bread]] was made by women using many types of seeds, nuts and corns to process a flour or dough to make bread. Aboriginal traditional native food use has been severely impacted by non-indigenous immigration since 1788, especially in the more densely colonised areas of south-eastern Australia. There, the introduction of non-native foods to Aborigines has resulted in an almost complete abandonment of native foods by Aborigines. This impact on traditional foods has been further accentuated by the loss of traditional lands which has resulted in reduced access to native foods by Aborigines and destruction of native habitat for agriculture. The recent recognition of the nutritional and gourmet value of native foods by non-indigenous Australians is introducing native cuisine to many for the first time. However, there are unresolved intellectual property issues associated with the commercialisation of bushfood. ==Colonial use== [[Image:Billardiera scandens(cropped).jpg|thumb|''[[Billardiera scandens]]]]'' Bushfoods provided a source of nutrition to the non-indigenous colonial settlers, often supplementing meager rations. However, bushfoods were often considered to be inferior by colonists unfamiliar with the new land's food ingredients, generally preferring familiar foods from the homeland. In the 19th Century eminent English botanist, [[J.D. Hooker]], writing of Australian edible plants in ''Flora of Tasmania'', remarked although "eatable," are not "fit to eat". In 1889, botanist [[Joseph Maiden]] reiterated this sentiment with the comment on native food plants "nothing to boast of as eatables." <ref> Maiden, J.H., ''The Useful Native Plants of Australia'', 1889, p.1 </ref> The first monograph to be published on the [[flora of Australia]] reported the lack of edible plants on the first page, where it presented ''[[Billardiera scandens]]'' as, "... almost the only wild eatable fruit of the country".<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first= J E |authorlink=James Edward Smith |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title= [[Spec. Bot. New Holland]]|origdate= |origyear=1793 |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |series= |date= |year= |month= |publisher=[[James Sowerby]] |location= |language= |isbn= |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote=AMID all the beauty and variety which the vegetable productions of New Holland display in such profusion, there has not yet been discovered a proportionable degree of usefulness to mankind, at least with respect to food. }}</ref> This became the accepted view of Australian native food plants until the late 20th Century. It is thought that these early assessments were a result of encountering strong flavours not generally suitable for out-of-hand eating, but these strong flavours are now highly regarded for culinary use. The only Australian native food developed and cropped on a large scale is the [[macadamia nut]], with the first small-scale commercial plantation being planted in Australia in the 1880s. Subsequently, [[Hawaii]] was where the macadamia was commercially developed to its greatest extent from stock imported from Australia. ==Modern use== In the 1970s non-indigenous Australians began to recognise the previously over-looked native Australian foods. Textbooks like ''Wildfoods In Australia'' by the botanist couple, Cribb & Cribb were popular. In the late 1970s horticulturists started to assess native food-plants for commercial use and cultivation. In 1980 [[South Australia]] legalised the sale of [[kangaroo meat]] for human consumption. Analysis showed that a variety of bushfoods were exceptionally nutritious.<ref> Low, T., ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', Angus & Robertson, 1992, pp 199-202 ISBN 0-207-16930-6</ref> In the mid-1980s several [[Sydney]] restaurants began using native Australian ingredients in recipes more familiar to non-indigenous tastes - providing the first opportunity for bushfoods to be tried by non-indigenous Australians on a serious [[gourmet]] level. This led to the realisation that many strongly flavoured native food plants have [[spice]]-like qualities. Following popular TV programs on "bush tucker", a surge in interest in the late 1980s saw the publication of books like ''Bushfood: Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine'' by Jennifer Issacs, ''The Bushfood Handbook'' and ''Uniquely Australian'' by [[Vic Cherikoff]], and ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'' by [[Tim Low]]. Bushfood ingredients were initially harvested from the wild, but cultivated sources have become increasingly important to provide sustainable supplies for a growing market, with some Aboriginal communities also involved in the supply chain. Gourmet style [[processed food]] and [[dried food]] have been developed for the domestic and export markets. The term "bushfood" is one of several terms describing native Australian food, evolving from the older-style "bush tucker" which was used in the 1970s and 1980s. The word "bushfood" was chosen to reflect the sustainable values and gormet qualities, and is the most established and widespread term used to describe native Australian food. ==Bushfood in Media== TV shows made use of the bushfood theme. [[Malcolm Douglas]] was one of the first presenters to show how to 'live off the land' in the Australian Outback. Major [[Les Hiddins]], a retired [[Australian Army]] soldier popularized the idea of bush tucker as an interesting food resource. He presented a hit TV series called ''Bush Tucker Man'' on the [[Australian Broadcasting Commission|ABC]] TV network in the late 1980s. In the series, Hiddins demonstrated his research for [[NORFORCE]] in identifying foods which might sustain or augment army forces in the northern Australian Outback. In early 2003, the first cooking show featuring authentic Australian foods and called Dining Downunder was produced by Vic Cherikoff and Bailey Park Productions of Toronto, Canada. This was followed by the SBS production of Message Stick with Aboriginal chef, Mark Olive. ==Native Australian food-plants listed by culinary province and plant part== Australian bushfood plants can be divided into several distinct and large regional culinary provinces. Please note, some species listed grow across several climatic boundaries. ===Top-end=== Monsoonal zone of the Northern Territory, Cape York and North-western Australia. ====Fruits==== [[Image:P Morc D1252.JPG|thumb|[[Noni]]]] {| |''[[Buchanania arborescens]]''||Little Gooseberry Tree |- |''[[Buchanania obovata]]''||Green Plum |- |''[[Citrus gracilis]]''||Kakadu Lime |- |''[[Eugenia carissoides]]''||Cedar Bay Cherry |- |''[[Ficus racemosa]]''||Cluster Fig |- |''[[Manilkara kaukii]]''||Wongi |- |''[[Melastoma affine]]''||Blue Tongue |- |''[[Mimusops elengi]]''||Tanjong |- |''[[Morinda citrifolia]]''||[[Noni]] |- |''[[Physalis minima]]''||Native Gooseberry |- |''[[Terminalia ferdinandiana]]''||Kakadu Plum |- |''[[Syzygium fibrosum]]''||Fibrous Satinash |- |''[[Syzygium suborbiculare]]''||Lady Apple |} ====Vegetables==== {| |''[[Cycas media]]''||Cycad palm seeds (Require detoxification: see [[Bush bread]] ) |- |''[[Dioscorea alata]]''|| Chinese or winged yam <br> |- |''[[Dioscorea bulbifera]]''||Round Yam |- |''[[Dioscorea transversa]]''||Pencil Yam, Long Yam |- |''[[Eleocharis]]'' spp.||Mat-Rush, a traditional staple for [[Yolngu]] |- |''[[Ipomoea aquatica]]''||Native Kang Kong |- |''[[Nelumbo nucifera]]''||[[Lotus]] |- |''[[Nymphaea macrosperma]]''||[[Nymphaea|water lily]] |} ====Nuts==== {| |''[[Semecarpus australiensis]]''||Australian Cashew |- |''[[Terminalia catappa]]''||Sea Almond |} ====Spices==== {| |''[[Eucalyptus staigeriana]]''||Lemon Ironbark |- |''[[Melaleuca leucadendron]]''||Weeping Paperbark |- |''[[Ocimum tenuiflorum]]''||Native Basil |} ===Central and Inland Australia=== Arid and semi-arid zones of the low rainfall interior. ====Fruits==== [[Image:Bush-Tomato.jpg|thumb|[[Bush Tomato]]es]] {| |''[[Capparis]]'' spp.||Native Caper, [[Caperbush]] |- |''[[Capparis mitchelii]]''||Wild orange |- |''[[Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia|''Capparis spinosa'' <br> subsp. ''nummularia'']]||[[Wild passionfruit]] |- |''[[Carissa lanceolata]]''||Bush plum, Conkerberry |- |''[[Citrus glauca]]''||[[Desert Lime]] |- |''[[Enchylaena tomentosa]]''||Ruby Saltbush |- |''[[Ficus platypoda]]''||Desert Fig |- |''[[Marsdenia australis]]''||[[Doubah]], [[Bush Banana]] |- |''[[Owenia acidula]]''||Emu Apple |- |''[[Santalum acuminatum]]''||Desert Quandong |- |''[[Santalum lanceolatum]]''||Northern Sandalwood |- |''[[Solanum centrale]]''||Akudjura, Australian Desert Raisin, Bush tomato |- |''[[Solanum cleistogarnum]]''||[[Bush tomato]] |- |''[[Solanum ellipticum]]''||[[Bush tomato]] |} ====Vegetables==== {| |''[[Calandrinia balonensis]]''||Parakeelya |- |''[[Ipomoea costata]]''||Bush potato |- |''[[Vigna lanceolata]]''||[[Pencil Yam]] |- |''[[Lepidium]]'' spp.||Peppercresses |- |''[[Portulaca intraterranea]]''||Large Pigweed |} ====Seeds==== {| |''[[Acacia aneura]]''||[[Mulga]] |- |''[[Acacia colei]]''|| |- |''[[Acacia coriacea]]''||Dogwood |- |''[[Acacia holosericea]]''||Strap Wattle |- |''[[Acacia kempeana]]''||Witchetty Bush |- |''[[Acacia murrayana]]''|| |- |''[[Acacia pycnantha]]''|| |- |''[[Acacia retinodes]]''|| |- |''[[Acacia tetragonophylla]]''||Dead finish seed |- |''[[Acacia victoriae]]''||Gundabluey, Prickly wattle |- |''[[Brachychiton populneus]]''||[[Kurrajong]] |- |''[[Panicum decompositum]]''||native millet |- |''[[Portulaca oleracea]]''||Pigweed |- |''[[Triodia (plant genus)|Triodia]]'' spp.||commonly known as spinifex |} ====Insects in gall==== [[Bush coconut]] [[Mulga apple]] ===Eastern Australia=== Subtropical rainforests of New South Wales to the wet tropics of Northern Queensland. ====Fruit==== [[Image:Citrus australasica red whole.jpg|thumb|[[Finger Lime]]]] {| |''[[Acronychia acidula]]''||[[Lemon Aspen]] |- |''[[Acronychia oblongifolia]]''||White Aspen |- |''[[Antidesma bunius]]''||Herbet River Cherry |- |''[[Archirhodomyrtus beckleri]]''||Rose Myrtle |- |''[[Austromyrtus dulcis]]''||Midyim |- |''[[Carpobrotus glaucescens]]''||Pigface |- |''[[Citrus australasica]]''||[[Finger Lime]] |- |''[[Citrus australis]]''||Dooja |- |''[[Davidsonia jerseyana]]''||New South Wales Davidson's Plum |- |''[[Davidsonia johnsonii]]''||Smooth Davidsonia |- |''[[Davidsonia pruriens]]''||North Queensland Davidson's Plum |- |''[[Diploglottis campbellii]]''||Small-leaf Tamarind |- |''[[Eupomatia laurina]]''||Bolwarra |- |''[[Ficus coronata]]''||Sandpaper Fig |- |''[[Melodorum leichhardtii]]''||Zig Zag Vine |- |''[[Pleiogynium timorense]]''||Burdekin Plum |- |''[[Podocarpus elatus]]''||Illawarra Plum |- |''[[Planchonella australis]]''||Black Apple |- |''[[Rubus moluccanus]]''||Broad-leaf Bramble |- |''[[Rubus probus]]''||Atherton Raspberry |- |''[[Rubus rosifolius]]''||Rose-leaf Bramble |- |''[[Syzygium australe]]''||Brush Cherry |- |''[[Syzygium luehmannii]]''||[[Riberry]] |- |''[[Syzygium paniculatum]]''||Magenta Lilly Pilly |- |''[[Ximenia americana]]''||Yellow Plum |} ====Vegetable==== {| |''[[Apium prostratum]]''||Sea Celery |- |''[[Geitonoplesium cymosum]]''||Scrambling Lily |- |''[[Tetragonia tetragonoides]]''||Warrigal Greens |- |''[[Trachymene incisa]]''||Wild Parsnip |} ====Spices==== [[Image:Backhousia citriodora.jpg|thumb|[[Lemon Myrtle]]]] {| |''[[Alpinia caerulea]]''||Native Ginger |- |''[[Backhousia citriodora]]''||[[Lemon Myrtle]] |- |''[[Backhousia myrtifolia]]''||[[Cinnamon Myrtle]] |- |''[[Leptospermum liversidgei]]''||Lemon Tea-tree |- |''[[Prostanthera incisa]]''||Cut-leaf Mintbush |- |''[[Syzygium anisatum]]''||[[aniseed myrtle]] |- |''[[Tasmannia stipitata]]''||Dorrigo pepper (leaf and pepperberry) |} ====Nut==== {| |''[[Araucaria bidwillii]]''||Bunya Nut |- |''[[Athertonia diversifolius]]''||Atherton Almond |- |''[[Macadamia integrifolia]]''||[[Macadamia]] Nut |- |''[[Macadamia tetraphylla]]''||Bush Nut |- |''[[Sterculia quadrifida]]''||Peanut Tree |} ===Temperate=== Warm and cool temperate zones of southern Australia, including Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and the highlands of New South Wales. ====Fruit==== [[Image:Muntries on bush.gif|thumb|[[Muntries]]]] {| |''[[Acrotriche depressa]]''||Native Currant |- |''[[Billardiera cymosa]]''||Sweet Apple-berry |- |''[[Billardiera longiflora]]''||Purple Apple-berry |- |''[[Billardiera scandens]]''||Common Apple-berry |- |''[[Carpobrotus rossii]]''||Karkalla |- |''[[Exocarpus cupressiformis]]''||Native Cherry |- |''[[Gaultheria hispida]]''||Snow Berry |- |''[[Kunzea pomifera]]''||[[Muntries]] |- |''[[Rubus parvifolius]]''|| Pink-flowered Native Raspberry |- |''[[Sambucus gaudichaudiana]]''|| White Elderberry |} ====Seed==== [[Image:Aclo 001 lhp.jpg|thumb|Seeds of ''[[Acacia longifolia]]'']] {| |''[[Acacia longifolia]]''|| Golden Rods |- |''[[Acacia longifolia|Acacia sophorae]]''|| Coast Wattle |} ====Spice==== {| |''[[Eucalyptus dives]]''|| Peppermint Gum |- |''[[Eucalyptus olida]]''|| Strawberry Gum |- |''[[Eucalyptus globulus]]''|| Tasmanian Blue Gum |- |''[[Eucalyptus polybractea]]''||Blue-leaved Mallee |- |''[[Mentha australis]]''|| River Mint |- |''[[Prostanthera rotundifolia]]''|| Native Thyme |- |''[[Tasmannia lanceolata]]''|| Mountain pepper |- |''[[Tasmannia stipitata]]''|| [[Dorrigo Pepper]] |- |''[[Tasmannia xerophila]]''|| Alpine Pepper |} ====Vegetable==== {| |''[[Apium insulare]]''|| Flinders Island Celery |- |''[[Atriplex cinerea]]''|| Grey Saltbush |- |''[[Burchardia umbellata]]''|| Milkmaids |- |''[[Eustrephus latifolius]]''||Wombat berry |- |''[[Microseris scapigera]]''|| Murnong |} ==See also== *[[Australian Aboriginal sweet foods]] *[[Bush bread]] *[[Bushfood industry history]] *[[Bushmeat]] *[[Bush medicine]] *[[Indigenous Australian food groups]] ==External links== * [http://en.travelnt.com/experience/aboriginal-culture/bushtucker-tropics.aspx Bush Tucker in the northern Tropics of Australia] * [http://australianflavour.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=54 Popular Native Foods from Australian Flavour] * [http://indigenousaustralia.frogandtoad.com.au/bushtucker.html Aboriginal Australia] * [http://www.bushfood.net/ Australian Bushfood and Native Medicine Forum] * [http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/walabunnba/wantangka.shtml Aboriginal women's knowledge] * [http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/crops/index.htm CSIRO plant profiles] * [http://www.cherikoff.net/ Site of an industry pioneer] * [http://ausbushfoods.com/ Bushfoods Magazine] * [http://eataustralia.info Eat Australia] * [http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/monitoringandsurveillance/nuttab2006/onlineversionintroduction/onlineversion.cfm?&action=listFoods&group=Indigenous%20Foods Food Standards website] {{Indigenous Australians}} ==References== <references/> * Bruneteau, Jean-Paul, ''Tukka, Real Australian Food'', ISBN 0-207-18966-8. * , ''The Bushfood Handbook'', ISBN 0-7316-6904-5. * Issacs, Jennifer, ''Bushfood'', Weldons, Sydney. * Kersh, Jennice and Raymond, ''Edna's Table'', ISBN 0-7336-0539-7. * Low, Tim, ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', ISBN-13: 978-0207143830 [[Category:Bushfood|*]] [[Category:Australian cuisine]] [[Category:Indigenous Australian culture]] [[Category:Flora of Australia]] [[Category:Australian Aboriginal bushcraft]] [[lt:Bušo maistas]]