Bush Tucker Foods

Bush Tucker and Australian Bush Foods

Bush tucker, also known as bush food, refers to the diverse array of native Australian plants, seeds, fruits, insects, and animals traditionally used for sustenance by Aboriginal peoples. With a history spanning over 60,000 years, these natural resources not only provided essential nourishment but also played a profound role in the spiritual and cultural life of Indigenous Australians. This deep connection is often reflected in Aboriginal art, where depictions of bush tucker are used to convey ancestral stories, knowledge of the land, and sustainable living practices.

Quandongs in Coolamon

Traditional Bush Tucker Categories

Aboriginal bush foods can be grouped into several key categories, each holding a unique place in the diet and cultural traditions of various communities:

Animal Foods: Key protein sources include kangaroo, emu, goanna, witchetty grubs, and crocodile. Hunting these animals required extensive knowledge of animal behavior and seasonal patterns. The hunting methods and preparation techniques have been passed down through generations and are often depicted in Aboriginal paintings, symbolising survival and harmony with the environment.
Plant-Based Foods: Aboriginal people have long relied on an array of native plants for fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Popular examples include bush tomato (Solanum centrale), quandong (Santalum acuminatum), bush banana (Marsdenia australis), and desert yam (Microseris walteri). Many of these plants feature prominently in Dreaming stories and are symbolically represented in dot paintings and other traditional art forms.
Seeds and Grains: Seeds from acacia trees, such as mulga and wattle seeds, were commonly ground into flour to make damper, a type of bush bread. These seeds are depicted in art to signify abundance and the importance of sustainable harvesting practices.
Insects and Grubs: Witchetty grubs, honey ants, and bush coconut insects have long been valued as rich sources of protein. The gathering of these grubs, especially by women and children, is a recurring theme in many Aboriginal artworks, highlighting the communal nature of food collection.
Honey and Nectar: Native bees and honey ants provided a unique source of sweetness. Honey ants, in particular, are often shown in paintings from Central Australian regions, with their nests and honey-filled abdomens symbolising sustenance and cooperation.

Culinary and Medicinal Use of Bush Tucker

Bush tucker extends beyond basic nutrition, with many plants holding significant medicinal value. The bush orange (Capparis mitchellii), for example, was not only a food source but also used for treating ailments. The rat-tail plant ('Alpar' in Anmatyerre), known for its citrus-scented leaves, was used both as food and as a medicinal wash. These dual-purpose plants are celebrated in Aboriginal art as representations of the interconnectedness between health and sustenance.

Depictions of Bush Tucker in Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art often serves as a visual language, encoding knowledge about the environment, food sources, and survival strategies. Common motifs include:

Dot Paintings: These artworks frequently feature symbols representing bush foods, waterholes, and gathering places. The use of dots and circles can signify specific plants or animals and their location in the landscape.
Storytelling in Aboriginal Art: Many artworks tell Dreaming stories that explain the origins of particular plants and animals. For instance, the yam dreaming story is a central theme for many artists from Utopia, with intricate designs symbolising the underground growth of yams.

Sustainability and Cultural Preservation

The traditional knowledge of bush tucker has been crucial for the survival of Aboriginal communities in Australia's diverse and often harsh environments. However, colonisation disrupted these practices by displacing communities from their lands and introducing non-native foods. Despite these challenges, there has been a resurgence in interest in bush foods, both within Aboriginal communities and among non-Indigenous Australians.

Efforts are underway to preserve this cultural heritage through initiatives that promote bush tucker education and sustainable harvesting. Aboriginal artists play a vital role in this movement, using their works to share traditional knowledge and advocate for the protection of native species and habitats.

Modern Use of Bush Tucker

Today, bush tucker is gaining recognition in gourmet cuisine, with ingredients like lemon myrtle, finger lime, and macadamia nuts being incorporated into contemporary dishes. This renewed interest not only highlights the unique flavors of Australia but also provides economic opportunities for Aboriginal communities involved in the cultivation and supply of bush foods.

Restaurants and food producers across Australia have started to include native ingredients, creating demand for sustainable harvesting. Additionally, educational programs and tourism initiatives help raise awareness about the cultural significance of bush tucker, often featuring Aboriginal art as a storytelling medium.

Here's a List of Australian Bush Tucker and Bush Food (Land-Based)

Fruits

Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)
Bush Tomato (Solanum centrale)
Bush Plum / Conkerberry (Carissa lanceolata)
Bush Orange (Capparis mitchellii)
Desert Fig (Ficus platypoda)
Desert Raisin (Akatyerre)
Wild Passionfruit (Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia)
Wild Fig
Mulga Apple
Bush Coconut
Riberry (Syzygium luehmannii)
Finger Lime (Citrus australasica)
Davidson’s Plum (Davidsonia spp.)
Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Midyim (Austromyrtus dulcis)
Muntries (Kunzea pomifera)
Emu Apple (Owenia acidula)
Native Currant (Acrotriche depressa)

Vegetables and Yams

Desert Yam (Anaty / Microseris walteri)
Pencil Yam (Ipomoea costata)
Bush Potato (Ipomoea costata)
Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonoides)
Bush Banana (Marsdenia australis)
Sea Celery (Apium prostratum)
Native Spinach (Bower Spinach / Tetragonia implexicoma)

Seeds and Nuts

Wattle Seeds (Acacia spp.)
Mulga Seeds (Acacia aneura)
Kurrajong Seeds (Brachychiton populneus)
Pigweed Seeds (Portulaca oleracea)
Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia)
Bunya Nuts (Araucaria bidwillii)
Cycad Palm Seeds (Cycas media – detoxified before consumption)
Native Millet (Panicum decompositum)

Insects and Grubs

Witchetty Grubs (Larvae of moths found in roots of witchetty bush)
Honey Ants (Yerrampe)
Cicadas
Caterpillars
Bush Coconut Insects

Animal Foods

Kangaroo
Bush Turkey (Australian bustard)
Emu
Goanna
Crocodile
Perentie (large monitor lizard)
Other Lizards
Snakes
Possums
Wallaby
Goose (Magpie Goose)
Flying Fox (Fruit Bat)
Bilby
Echidna

Honey and Nectar

Honey Ants
Native Bee Honey
Nectar from Bloodwood Trees
Nectar from Corkwood Trees

Spices and Flavourings

Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata)
Aniseed Myrtle (Syzygium anisatum)
Native Thyme (Prostanthera rotundifolia)
River Mint (Mentha australis)
Wattleseed (Acacia spp. – roasted and ground)

Bush tucker shares the cultural, spiritual, and ecological knowledge of Australian Aboriginal Peoples. Through their art, Aboriginal people continue to preserve and share this knowledge, offering insights into sustainable living and the intricate relationship between people and the land. By understanding and appreciating bush tucker, we gain a deeper respect for Australia’s Indigenous heritage and the enduring legacy of its First Peoples.