PRODUCE // Geraldton waxflower
Can be used as a fresh herb Leaves resemble pine needles Flowers have a waxy appearance
Endemic to Western Australia
Pink and white flowers bloom from late winter to spring
Geraldton waxflower The Australian native edible could fool you into thinking it’s lemongrass. WORDS Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, Straight to the Source ILLUSTRATION Elena Fombertaux GERALDTON WAXFLOWER (Chamelaucium
have developed new colours, larger blooms,
fish and meat dishes, while the leaves can
uncinatum) is endemic to Western Australia
extended flowering periods and a waxflower
be stripped and processed in a mortar and
and is thought to only occur naturally on the
with outstanding edible properties,” he says.
pestle. “Waxflower is currently being used as
coastal Quindalup dunes between Perth
However, not all of Helix Australia’s
a fresh herb in restaurants, as a dry leaf in a
and Geraldton. The native shrub produces a
waxflower varieties are suitable for cooking.
waxflower and lemon tea, as a fresh botanical
proliferation of white and pink flowers from late
To find the best one, the company ran various
in gin, as a freeze-dried powder in beer and in
winter to spring and is prized for its culinary
blind taste tests with chefs before selecting
some baking products,” says Parsons.
uses and as a cut flower.
a hybrid. For Parsons, the culinary variety
Perth-based plant breeder Adrian Parsons
Perth-based Executive Chef Jed Gerrard
of waxflower offers chefs and mixologists a
from the Ritz-Carlton has been championing
was one of the early commercial producers
point of difference as well as great promise
geraldton wax on his menus since discovering
of Geraldton waxflower, cultivating it for its
in lifting the flavour profile of various menu
it a few years ago, and it’s increasingly being
edible properties. With a zesty, citrus tang, the
items. “Waxflower could potentially be the
spotted on other menus across the country
edible leaves — which resemble pine needles
next edible Australian lemongrass,” he says.
at restaurants including Attica and Rockpool
— and waxy flowers have a flavour similar to lemongrass, lemon myrtle or kaffir lime. Parsons runs Helix Australia, which is
Similar to an aromatic culinary herb and an accessible addition to the kitchen garden,
Bar & Grill. With a unique flavour profile and
waxflower is a versatile plant as the stems
versatility across many different foodservice
one of the world’s largest breeders of
and the leaves can be used in cooking. For
applications, we expect to see much more of
waxflower. “The Helix range is unique as we
instance, the fresh stems can be added to
the native Australian ingredient soon. ■
16 | Hospitality
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