Lemon myrtle

Not to be confused with other native lemony flavours, such as lemon aspen, finger limes, or native limes.
Latin name: Backhousia citriodora.

Eating

• “More lemon than lemon”. A rich, fruity, lemony flavour from the leaves.
• Excellent in lemony sweet dishes; can be used with lemon juice to enhance the flavour.
• Use wherever you might use lemon but want less acid, or where lemon juice might curdle milk products.
• As a result, is fantastic in sweet milky dishes such as ice-cream, custards, cakes, etc.
• Fresh or dried whole leaves make a very good tea, particularly iced tea.
• Use fresh or dried whole leaves when cooking whole fish to add a rich lemony flavour.

Growing

• Is a tropical rainforest plant and can grow quite large in tropical conditions.
• Can be frost-tolerant once it gets large enough.
• Does best in pots which can be moved to the warmest, most sheltered positions during the year.
• Requires regular watering.

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Aniseed myrtle

Also known as Ironbark.
Latin name: Syzygium anisatum.

Eating

• Similar to lemon myrtle but with an aniseed flavour to the leaves.
• Use whole (fresh or dried) at the beginning of cooking to infuse a mild aniseed flavour through your dish.
• Use ground to sprinkle at the end of cooking to provide an instant aniseed hit.

Growing

• Is a tropical rainforest plant and can grow quite large in tropical conditions.

• Can be frost-tolerant once it gets large enough.

• Does best in pots which can be moved to the warmest, most sheltered positions during the year.
• Is more cold-tolerant than lemon myrtle - there is a lovely plant in the Australian National Botanical Gardens.

• Will need protection from frost and cold when young, however.

• Requires regular watering.

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Cinnamon myrtle

Latin name: Backhousia myrtifolia

• As with lemon myrtle, but with a very distinct cinnamon flavour to the leaves.

Growing

• Is a tropical rainforest plant and can grow quite large in tropical conditions.

• Can be frost-tolerant once it gets large enough.

• Does best in pots which can be moved to the warmest, most sheltered positions during the year.
• Requires regular watering.