Bush Tucker: Australia's Native Foods

Bush Tucker: Indigenous Australian Foods

Bush tucker (or bushfood) refers to native Australian plants and animals traditionally harvested by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for food, medicine, and cultural purposes over 60,000+ years.

Animal Foods

• Kangaroo: Lean, high-protein, low-fat red meat.
• Wallaby: Similar to kangaroo, smaller.
• Possum: Roasted/stewed (e.g., brush-tailed).
• Goanna: Large monitor lizard; meat and eggs.
• Emu: Lean poultry-like meat.
• Witchetty grub: Wood-boring moth larvae; high fat/protein.
• Fish & shellfish: Coastal and freshwater species.

Plant Foods

• Quandong (native peach): Tart, high vitamin C.
• Davidson's plum: Antioxidant-rich, tart.
• Kakadu plum (gubinge): World's highest natural vitamin C.
• Wattleseed (acacia): Roasted, ground for flour, coffee substitute, nutty flavor.
• Saltbush: Salty succulent leaves.
• Bush tomato (kutjera): Sundried, intense umami.
• Lemon myrtle: Citrus-scented leaves.
• Finger lime: "Citrus caviar" vesicles.
• Macadamia: Native nut (Queensland/NSW).

Modern Revival

Bush tucker is gaining recognition in fine dining, functional foods, and Indigenous enterprises—celebrating one of the world's oldest continuous food cultures.