Australian tropical fruits: a source of distinctive flavours

Australia is home to 10% of the world's flora and of these approximately 7% are indigenous. Australian tropical rainforests in North Queensland have a high level of biodiversity and contain hundreds of edible plant species. This includes many indigenous tropical fruit species that are a source of unique flavours. Some of them are used in local boutique industries and beverages but there is potential for more to have a wider usage worldwide. These fruits will be presented in two categories: tree fruits and vine fruits. Indigenous tropical tree fruits include: five Citrus species, seven Garcinia species, Syzygiums, Diploglottis, and native plum species. Terminalia ferdinandiana or kakadu plum has one hundred times the content of vitamin C that is found in Citrus species and has been measured as high as 5,300 mg 100 g^‑1 of fresh weight. Vine fruits include species of Curcubitaceae, Rosaceae, Solonaceae and Vitaceae.