You can find strawberry gum in our Australian Bush Food Garden at Green Olive at Red Hill.
Interesting Facts about Strawberry Gum
The Strawberry Gum is a tree native to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. The tree grows up to 10m with a flaky bark and small white flowers growing in spring. Beneath the ground, Strawberry Gums form a lignotuber, a round woody mass containing a store of buds and nutrients that will help regenerate the tree after a destructive event such as a fire. The Strawberry Gum gets its name from the intense berry flavour and aroma of its leaves. It is said that Indigenous populations travelling through the Northern Tablelands would often grab some leaves from Strawberry Gums and chew on them for their fruity flavour.
Culinary Uses of Strawberry Gum
There are a number of interesting uses for the leaves of this unique tree including to enhance the flavour of stewed fruits, jams, crumbles and other dessert dishes. The leaves are also often brewed for tea or steeped in carbonated water for a refreshing drink on a hot day!
Interested in learning more about Australian bush foods? We are developing a range of products and experiences that will allow you to feel, smell and taste bush tucker. In the meantime, check out our other bush tucker plants to learn about some of the other native Australian flora that we’ve planted: Lemon Myrtle, Davidson's Plum and Midyim Berry
Strawberry gum trees
Photo credit: Daleys Fruit
The fruit of the strawberry gum
Photo credit: Alchetron
Strawberry gum leaves
Photo credit: Alchetron
Banner photo credit: Bushfood Factory
Cover photo credit: Outback Chef