Solanum centrale

Other Names : Kutjera, Bush raisin, Desert raisin, Akudjurra, Australian Desert raisin.
This bush food plant is native to arid regions of Australia, and grows to a small shrub with pale yellow-green leaves. The bush produces purple flowers from late summer to spring, followed by the edible small fruits, which are yellow when ripe and dry to brown on the bush, resembling raisins.

Special Precautions of Solanum centrale

• The unripe fruit is toxic. The unripe fruit contains the toxin solanine (the same as that found in green potatoes) and must be fully ripened before consumption.
• There are many other Solanum species that resemble Solanum centrale, and only some of them produce edible fruit eg Solanum chippendalei and Solanum ellipticum. Some closely related species produce fruit that are toxic.

Health Benefits and Uses of Solanum centrale

The fruit is used raw or cooked :

• Small quantities can be eaten fresh.
• The fruits are rich in Vitamin C and have a flavour described as similar to tamarillo and caramel.
• The dried, shrivelled fruits have a rich, spicy, aromatic flavour.
• The dried fruits can be ground into a powder or preserved in oil.
• After rubbing in the native red sand, they are said to taste more like raisins.
• They are excellent in sauces, chutneys, relishes, jams and salsas.
• Traditionally, the fruits are gathered by the Aborigines, processed, dried and stored as staple foods.