Australia has 8 indigenous raspberries in the true sense that they bear
red raspberries on mostly prickly bi-ennial canes. Whilst much is known of It’s
close relatives in the northern hemisphere which number in their hundreds,
little information is available on Australian Rubus species and their taxonomic
variations, which isn’t surprising given real interest in Australian natives is
still in it’s infancy. Australia's raspberries are sweet and juicy with distinctive
colours and flavours. Locally we have 3 varieties available. The molucca berry
shows the most promise as a cultivated variety as it has the best yield and
works well with similar growing practices to the European and hybrid varieites.
Rubus parvolfolius is a very small plant, with little yield but very delicious
berries. Rubus rosafolius - the rose leaved raspberry known localy as the
fernleigh raspberry - is quite opportunistic and therefore unreliable as a
cultivated crop. The fruits however are delightful in colour, flavour and
texture. supply is currently limited to wild harvest from local private properties
and sells very quickly. Plants are sometimes available.
Rubus moluccanus. (Molucca bramble or Molucca
berry) Australia ’s molucca berry, a true
raspberry, is closely related to and resembles the European raspberry familiar
to most people, but with a brighter colour and sweeter flavour. It is a
rainforest fruit that grows happily alongside streams and shady creeks, over a
wide are of eastern Australia from Victoria in the south to tropical
north Queensland . Fruit is available fresh
in season (usually winter in northern NSW – can vary widely with climatic
conditions) and frozen at other times.
As well as being
delicious
to eat Molucca Berries are very nutritious and are fast gaining a
reputation as a
natural medicine (even to treat cancer). Nutritionally,
they contain on average 1.5% protein, .01% Thiamin, 0.02% Riboflavin and
1%
Vitamin C. Recent research undertaken by Food Science Australia shows the berries have
extremely
high anti-oxidant activity. Other research undertaken at CharlesSturtUniversity suggests the berries could
be developed for their
anti-bacterial properties. The antimicrobial
activity of molucca berry juice and dried molucca berries were investigated
against five human pathogenic bacteria, and both were found to significantly
reduce the growth of several species of bacteria including Staphylococcus
aureus, Alcaligenes faecalis and E. Coli.
Further, tea made from the
dried leaves and berries can assist greatly during late pregnancy, containing a
substance that relaxes the uterus, preparing for birth. A truly useful plant.
GROWERS
NEEDED FOR THIS CASH CROP FRUIT WITHIN TWO YEARS.
RASPBERRY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE:
Fresh/Frozen fruit is sometimes available - we sell out very quickly due to the
high demand.
Molucca Berry Rainforest Fruit Jelly
Secret Women’s Business Green Tea Infusion.
