The quandong is a fruit used for thousands of years by Australian Aboriginal tribes (also known as wild peach). Members of the tribe Pitjabtjara used to eat the fruit before venturing out on hunting trips. Although the fruit was considered an excellent substitute for meat, its bark and leaves were widely used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.
The fruit grows wild throughout the far west of NSW and was highly sought after by Indigenous groups before white settlement and during times when families were displaced or moved to missions. It has a sweet flavor with a balanced slightly sour and salty aftertaste and a mild aroma of dried lentils with some hints of earthy fermentation.
Properties and benefits of quandong
The native fruit, a member of the sandalwood family, grows in the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Whether wet, dried, or raw, quandong is one of Australia’s most versatile foods, so versatile that it can also be used to help with foot massages or to treat toothache.
- Quandongs contain almost twice the vitamin C of an orange. They also provide iron, zinc, magnesium, vitamin E, folate, and calcium.
- These sweet and shiny fruits are rich in protein, fiber, complex oils, iron, and zinc.
- The fruit is rich in antioxidants of phenolic nature known for protection against medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Rutin in the fruit not only reduces free radical proliferation but also works with vitamin C to minimize dark circles, strengthen capillaries, and reduce the effects of aging on the skin.
- Quandong seeds contain oils that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- Rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and protein, quandongs were considered a great meat substitute, especially when meat was scarce among Australian Indigenous people.
- Source of vitamin E, folic acid, magnesium, and calcium.
- Vegetarian/vegan source of iron and zinc.
- Source of phenolic antioxidants that strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and protect against a range of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- It is also equally valued as a medicine in the treatment of skin conditions and rheumatism.
How to consume quandong
The sweet and spicy fruit is enjoyed raw and very often stewed, and used as a filling for a pie. The freeze-dried powder is perfect for cakes, juices, and fruit salads and can be sprinkled on lamb and chicken before cooking. In powder form, it can easily be added to cakes, juices, or fruit salads as well as smoothies and yogurt.
