Lemon Myrtle

Common Names & Species:
Lemon Myrtle, Lemon Ironwood (Backhousia citriodora)

Family:
Myrtaceae

Native To:
Sub-tropical and tropical rainforest areas of Qld. Natural rainfall greater than 800mm.
>> Virtual Herbarium

Habit:
Tree to 15 metres In its natural environment.

Part Used:
Leaf, flowers.

Flavour:
Strong lemon.

Food Use:
For citrus-type flavour in sweet and savoury products. The leaves contain between 0.33 –  0.86 % essential oil consisting almost entirely of citral.

Current Retail Product Categories:
Tea blends and beverages, dairy, biscuits, breads, confectionery, pasta, syrups, liqueurs, flavoured oils, packaged fish/salmon. Dipping Sauces, Simmer Sauces. For use in sweet and savoury dishes.

Non-food products include deodorants, cosmetics, air fresheners, washing powders, disinfectants, soaps and facial creams.

Food Quality & Safety Issues:
Currently there is no industry-wide product description or quality standards developed or published for this crop, though individual market channel groups are likely to be working to in-house standards

Crop collection, production and handling systems will eventually require the implementation of HACCP-based food safety systems.

Wild Harvest/Cultivated Supplies:
Most production comes from cultivation.

Wild Harvest Locations:
Insignificant source.

Cultivation Locations:
Northern NSW, southern Qld & the Whitsunday area, Adelaide Hills, SA.

Approx Wholesale (‘Farm Gate’) Prices:
Whole fresh leaf $36/kg .
Dried and ground leaf $55/kg.
Whole dried leaf: $50/kg.

Current Volumes Traded:
In the order of 10-15 tonnes of dried leaf per annum (2001).

Other Links:

• RIRDC Lemon myrtle information sheet (pdf file)