The Essential Ingredient Sydney stocks an extensive range of native ingredients. This guide is intended to inform you about what they are and how to use them. They are incredibly strong and flavourful, somewhat like the personality of our country itself! The importance of these ingredients is that they are just that, native, and they were growing all over this country before we arrived. These plants are suited to the climate, soil and seasons of this drought stricken land. There is nothing like the intense taste of a native lime, and we stock many products lovingly made with native flavours and ingredients. Native herbs such as Lemon Myrtle and Wild Rosella are some of the most common, and these are already in a few of our best selling products. However, native fruits are exciting additions to any cook's repertoire.

If you aren't feeling confident enough to buy raw fruit, there are many ready made products to try. For the intrepid cook, here is a run down of the ingredients we stock and their usage.

Lemon Aspen

The fruit of the lemon aspen are a pale greenish coloured and look like grapes. They have an inner core with tiny black seeds. They are an intensely tart and acidic citrus tasting fruit, with hints of honey and eucalypt. They can be used successfully in most recipes where lemons and limes are called for. The flavour is however extremely strong and approximately 100g of lemon aspen equals something close to the juice, zest and pulp of about 6 large lemons. Lemon aspen works best in dressings, marinades and dishes where it can be added at the last minute. Boiling destroys a lot of its flavour. Lemon aspen works well with lemon myrtle, native mints, lemongrass and ginger, fruits such as raspberry, mango and rhubarb. It also works well in ice cream and baked goods after being pureed. The juice can also be purchased and used for sauces syrups and curds.

Uses: lemon aspen mayonnaise, lemon aspen shortbread, lemon aspen and macadamia dressing, lemon aspen vinegar, lemon aspen meringue pie, aspen and ginger marinade.

Wikipedia: Lemon Aspen

Wild Lime

The wild lime (or sometimes desert lime) is a true drought resistant plant that can adapt and grow in severe conditions. The fruit, which comes in miniature and regular sizes, is juicy with a thin skin and segmented fruit, closely resembling a West Indian green lime. It is a relative of the exotic finger lime. The wild lime can be substituted for ordinary limes in almost any recipe and, like its common relative, the whole fruit can be used. They are best added towards the end of cooking but can be used in marmalades, curds, brulees and sauces.

Uses: wild lime and coriander dressing, wild lime and ginger tart.

Wikipedia: Desert Lime

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