Kakadu or Kalari plum - world's highest vitamin C capacity fruit

Kakadu (aka Kalari plum or Terminalia ferdinandiana, which actually is not a plum but more closely related to almonds. It is in the botanic family of the Combretaceae. Other relatives include the Polynesian almond or Terminalia catappa and T. muelleri or black fruit.

The Kakadu or Kalari plum is now well known as the world’s highest fruit source of vitamin C but it also contains significant absorptive enhancers such as iron and folates. These make the vitamin C more biologically available than if they were not present. Additionally, an important point to note is that the enhanced benefits of Kakadu plum are found when it is used as a whole fruit purée not just a juice or an extract. The purée includes all the fibre and soluble carbohydrates and also the intact cellular biochemical feedback systems which preserve the high levels of vitamin C until digestion and absorption occurs in our gut. It is an extremely important innovation in nutritional supplementation. In a way, it can be thought of as a supply of whole fruit flesh puree rather than a blend of extracts from juice. It is richer, more nutritious and better for us.

By comparison, recent reports in the USA suggest that increased refined juice consumption by children is a contributing factor to the rising incidence of obesity in America. The intake of fruits has risen as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines but the fruits themselves are nutrient poor and the juices consumed do not include the dietary fibre and are often brought up to the high levels of sugar ‘naturally’ found in the fruits. Additionally, the sugars added are generally straight sucrose and not other simple sugars as in wild fruits.

Interestingly, more recent studies into antioxidants and wild fruits at two universities (Charles Sturt University in the Riverina and The University of NSW, Sydney) and the Australian Government’s research organization, the CSIRO as a non-academic institution have revealed a high level of some other nutritionally important polyphenolic antioxidants along with the vitamin C in the Kakadu plum. Incidentally, other fruits were included in these tri-institutional studies and most of the commercial species under scrutiny are highlighted here.

Two of the phytochemicals in Kakadu plums are gallic and ellagic acids (and some closely related compounds) and both have excellent antioxidant properties:

Gallic acid has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal activities and also shows anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-mutagenic and antibronchodilatory activities and has been found to show cytotoxicity against cancer cells without harming healthy ones.

Ellagic acid also has anti-carcinogenic effects against a wide range of damaging compounds which can be present in many human tissues.

The interaction between certain phytochemicals like ellagic acid and other compounds in foods is not well understood but it is unlikely that any single compound offers the best protection against degenerative diseases such as cancer. A balanced diet that includes five or more servings a day of fruits (and vegetables) along with foods from a variety of other plant sources such as herbs and spices is likely to be more effective in maintaining overall health and well-being than eating one particular food in large amounts. Consider then, the convenience of innovative snack and food beverages that integrate the approach of blending other superfoods with wild Australian natives for variety and nutritional properties.

Flavour â€“ Subtle apricot.

Colour and Appearance â€“ Pale green olive sized fruit with a stone that clings to the fruit flesh as in a mango.

Typical Use â€“ The name and reputation of this product is a selling point so use raw fruit strips or pickle whole in sweet vinegar and use as a garnish.

Helpful Hints â€“ World’s highest fruit source of vitamin C. Slice the flesh off the seed while frozen or cook the fruit and strain the juice.

Storage and Packaging Size – Frozen, 1kg (approx. 420 fruits/kg)

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