Where “Bush Tucker” Comes From
“Bush tucker” means native Australian foods. “Tucker” is the Australian word for food, and “the bush” is the Australian countryside.
The foods include plants such as macadamia nuts, finger limes, wattleseed and bush tomato, and animals such as kangaroo. They have been used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for tens of thousands of years.
“We tried bush tucker on a tour in Kakadu.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in food, tourism and travel talk, and at restaurants and tours that use native ingredients.
In Real Life
Interest in bush tucker has grown, and native ingredients now appear in restaurants, cafés and supermarkets, from wattleseed in bread to finger lime on seafood. Many tours teach visitors about native foods, led by Aboriginal guides who share their knowledge. If you want to try some, look for products and tours run by Indigenous businesses. Never forage for wild plants by yourself, because some native plants are toxic.
Quick Questions
What are some examples of bush tucker?
Macadamia nuts, finger limes, wattleseed, bush tomatoes, quandongs and kangaroo meat are some well-known ones.
Can you pick bush tucker yourself?
Only with expert guidance. Some plants are poisonous, and many places have rules against picking wild plants.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: BOOSH TUK-er.
In conversation:
- We had a bush tucker tour.
- Finger limes are my favourite bush tucker.
- The restaurant uses bush tucker ingredients.
Good to know: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have eaten these foods for tens of thousands of years, and they hold the knowledge. Don’t eat wild plants unless an expert has told you they are safe.
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