Australian Bushfoods
& Products
Australian Bush Foods & Products Co-Operative Ltd
PO Box 501 Alstonville NSW 2477
Phone: 61 2 66295130
Lemon Myrtle is THE unique fragrance of the rainforest… by simply crushing the leaf in your hand you can experience the soft, alluring, sweet lemon fragrance. Citral is the component that gives lemons, lemongrass and lemon myrtle their scent. While lemon oil usually has 3-10% citral, lemon myrtle is 95% citral, 7 times that of lemongrass… but it adds a subtle rather than overpowering flavour. It is the best natural source of high quality citral known in the world.Lemon Myrtle, though, is about more than just fragrance. Researchers at Charles Sturt University found that Lemon Myrtle has very good antibactrial activity and excellent antifungal activity. The Australian Journal of Medicinal Herbalism reported, in 1991, the oil of lemon myrtle to be antifungal, antiviral, a calmative and a sedative.
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The lemon myrtle occurs naturally as a large shrub to a medium-sized tree (3-30m), mainly in the rainforests of coastal Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns. It is well known as an ornamental with abundant flowers and fragrant, lemon-scented leaves so it is most suitable for the home garden. It likes a position of part shade to full sun and a deep, rich soil. It needs protection from frost when young.The renowned German Australian Botanist, Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller (1825-96) named the tree in honour of James Backhouse (1794-1896), an English botanist and Quaker missionary. |
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Our Co-operative has planted about 130 000 trees since 1995 with an estimated oil yield of approximately 5 tonnes per year. |
From the early 1900's oil was distilled from the leaves and used in a local perfume factory.In the 1920's oil was exported to perfume manufacturers and essential oil firms on the Continent who were interested in the superior quality of the citral. During WW2 the oil was used for flavouring soft drinks due to a shortage of lemon essence. A guaranteed market for the oil, though, depended on a regular supply guaranteed by commercial plantings which have only occurred in recent times. |
Uses
Lemon myrtle has an abundance of uses. Its leaves
can be used fresh or dried and the oil can be extracted through
distillation. Fresh or ground dried leaf has endless applications in sweet
or savory dishes and drinks.
See our recipe page.
The fragrance of lemon myrtle, combined with its antifungal and antibacterial properties, make it an ideal ingredient in the manufacture of a range of cosmetics and toiletries such as soap, shampoo, shower gel, skin cream and moisturisers.
Check out our range of high-quality lemon myrtle products...clean, green and uniquely Australian.
In the meantime, enjoy the flavour of lemon myrtle!