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Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is indigenous
to the coastal, sub-tropical rainforests of Queensland, Australia.
The Sunshine Coast and Proserpine area are identified as main
areas of natural strands.
Backhousia citriodora was named by Baron Ferdinand von Müller
in 1853 after James Backhouse (1794-1869), an English nurseryman
and keen botany collector. Backhouse was an early Quaker missionary
who visited Australia in 1832-8, documenting the unique Australian
flora and fauna as well as writing about Australian society
during that era.
In 1889 Joseph H. Maiden reported the potential use of Lemon
Myrtle for commercial production and Schimmel & Co analysed
the species in 1888 for chemical properties, isolating citral
for the first time. Other ‘lemony’ essential oils
come from citrus (3-10% citral), lemon grass (75%), the tropical
Verbena (74%), the Lemon Scented Tea Tree (80%), but Lemon
Myrtle is the world's richest known natural source of citral
(90-98%).
In 1997, our Lemon Myrtle plantations were established,
and are now in full production. Harvesting of the Lemon Myrtle
leaf occurs nine months of the year, excluding the three months
of monsoon season from January to March. The fragrant leaf
is then dried in hot air dryers specifically designed to dry
the leaf efficiently and hygienically without damaging the
leaf's natural essentail oil composition. Consistent quality
product is available throughout the year.
Herbal Teas International is your "direct from source"
supplier of Lemon Myrtle to the North American market. |
