Desert Quandong - Botanic Label

Scientific Name

Santalum acuminatum

Also Known As

Native peach, wild peach, desert peach

Indigenous Name/s

Gurti by Kaurna people. Mangata by Pitjantjatjara people. Guwandhuna, Gutchu, Wanjanu, and Wadjal by other indigenous people.

Region

Widely dispersed throughout the central deserts and southern areas of Australia

Flavour

Quandongs can be sour, tart, tangy and salty to sweet depending on when the fruit is harvested. When ripe the flavour is tart and reminiscent of peach, apricot, or rhubarb.

Uses

Eaten straight of the tree or used for jams, chutneys, pies and cakes. 

Additional Info

100 grams of dried Quandongs provides more antioxidants than blueberries and equal levels of vitamin E as an avocado. It will also provide 50% of the recommended daily intake of folate with rich sources of magnesium, zinc and iron.

Quandong are a favourite food of camels, which have significantly reduced the number of desert quandong trees in the Northern Territory.