Riberry
Other Names : Syzygium luehmannii, small leaved lilly pilly, cherry satinash, cherry alder, clove lilli pilli, Riberries
The riberry tree is medium to large-sized and occurs naturally in littoral and subtropical rainforests, in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, and in tropical rainforests of northern Queensland. Riberry is a pear shaped fruit with a light red color with a single seed in the center.
Special Precautions of Riberry
A lot of lilly pillies are high in tannins, though, and need to be boiled up into jellies and jams.The Riberry is one of the few lilly pilly berries that can be eaten fresh
Health Benefits and Uses of Riberry
For thousands of years, Aboriginal people on the east coast, in the hinterland and rainforest regions relied upon Riberries as a core food source. The fruit was usually picked and gathered by women and children. While children thought of the berries as delicious sweet treats, adults commonly referred to them as “medicine berries”. Riberries provided essential vitamins and minerals to fight against colds and keep the immune system healthy and strong. The pulp was also used to treat ear infections.
- Contain essential minerals and phytochemicals : Rich in manganese and an important plant source of calcium.
- Contains high levels of anthocyanins, a potent antioxidant that is thought to improve cognitive function and protect against certain cancers, heart and Alzheimer’s diseases.
- has a similar antioxidant capacity to blueberries, helping to protect our bodies against oxidative stress and cancer.
- contain high amounts of Folic Acid : Three times the folate of a blueberry. Folate is needed for healthy growth and development and is essential for the healthy development of a baby during pregnancy.
- Though the fruit haves a cranberry like flavour, it is popular in the gourmet bushfood.
- The fruit is most commonly used in making jams, sauces, syrups and confectionery.
- Ice creams are also prepared by blending the whole fruit.
