Desert Raisin

~ Solanum centrale ~

Kampu ara in the Yankunytjatjara language and Aketyape in the Lower Arrente language

SOLANACEAE

An incredibly resilient plant with a gorgeous purple flower and edible fruit, the Desert Raisin, also commonly called Kutjera or Bush Tomato, has long had spiritual and cultural significance for the First Nations People of Central Australia. The fruit is like a smoky, caramel sun-dried tomato, piquant in flavour and widely available. I’d like to encourage you to add this special food to your culinary toolboxes, while being conscious to support Indigenous-led food companies that supply it commercially.

WHERE TO LOOK

This plant is endemic to the arid desert heart of Central Australia, parts of which are sacred to Traditional Owners. (You may require a permit to visit parts of these lands.)

FEATURES

The shrub only grows to about 30cm but can have a prolific underground root system spanning metres horizontally (the largest recorded was 2500 square metres). If you find one small shrub, chances are there will be offshoots around it. Flowers are purple with five yellow anthers in the centre (these contain the pollen). The roundish fruit is edible from when it’s yellow through to its dried sultana state, but be cautious when they’re green as they may be toxic. When eating bush foods, it’s important to be very sure of what you’re putting in your mouth and also whether you’re standing next to someone’s potential harvest. The Desert Raisin loves disturbed sites and can often be seen popping up along roadsides after rain.

FLOWERING SEASON

Spring to autumn → This perennial plant begins to flower in spring, and its fruit pops up between March and May.

TRADITIONAL USES

Many communities across the central deserts harvest the fruit around autumn; it’s eaten fresh or skewered and dried so the food is readily transportable and can be stored for years. The dried fruit can also be pounded and added with water to create an edible paste.

PLANTING

Seeds can be found online and cultivated, but you may also need a home-made (or commercial) smoke treatment as that’s generally necessary for germination (see p. xiii). Cuttings or root fragments are also successful and can last months before planting on.