Muntries (Kunzea pomifera)
Known as emu apples or native cranberries, the Muntrie Berry is a low growing shrub native to Australia. When ripe the berries are green with a red tinge and have the flavour of spicy apples.
Muntries are a berry that grow on the plant Kunzea pomifera that is indigenous to Australia. The Muntrie Berry is one of Australia’s oldest bush foods. These tasty little berries are now being revived and are used in today’s cooking. High in Antioxidants, Muntries have up to 4 times the Anti-oxidants of Blue Berries. This fruit has a sweet spicy apple flavour and can be eaten fresh or used in many sweet and savoury dishes.
So versatile is this amazing fruit, it is used in the making of jam, chutney, pies, fruit straps, wine, desserts, sweet and savoury sauces, fruit salad, platters and salads and chocolates. It can also be used instead of apples or sultanas. The anti-oxidants and wax are extracted to make hand cream and other beauty products.
In the wild the muntries plant (Kunzea pomifera) occurs as a prostrate or occasionally semi-upright shrub.
Muntries (also known as munthari, muntaberry or monterry) are a long time favourite of our traditional people. The fruit played a major part in the diet, not only when fresh, but also after being dried and stored for the winter months. They were often traded with other tribes, usually after being pounded into a paste which was then dried.
Early settlers used the berries in pies. The fruit can be used fresh in desserts and fruit salads, or cooked in pies, chutneys, jams and sweet or savoury sauces.
Plants for sale are ready for planting out, approx 30cm high in 140mm pots.
