A fragrant rainforest plant traditionally used by Indigenous Australians to clear the lungs, soothe colds, calm digestion, and scent water and camp spaces. Its sweet aniseed leaves make a delicious herbal tea and a prized bushfood flavouring. Found in cool, moist rainforest, Aniseed Myrtle supports pollinators and offers aromatic richness to bush-tucker gardens and sensory walks.

Indigenous Uses

1. Leaves – a highly aromatic bush medicine

Indigenous Australians used the strongly anise-scented leaves for multiple purposes:

• Crushed and inhaled as a breathing aid

• Brewed into herbal tea for:

  • Coughs

  • Congestion

  • Sore throats

  • Head colds

• Used as a digestive tonic

• Infused to relieve stomach discomfort, gas, or nausea

Its powerful aroma made it a go-to “camp medicine” in the cooler months.

2. Topical and cleansing uses

Infusions of the leaves were used as:

• Antiseptic washes

• Cleansing solutions for small wounds

• General “freshening” washes for hands and face

The oil compounds are naturally antimicrobial.

3. Leaves used as insect deterrent

Fresh or charred leaves helped:

• Repel mosquitoes

• Clear insects from sleeping areas

• Freshen smoky shelters

Like other Syzygium species, the aromatic foliage was valued as a protective plant.

4. Flavouring food

Crushed leaves were added sparingly to:

• Baked meats

• Fish steaming bundles

• Water infusions

The plant’s aniseed oils contributed a sweet, aromatic flavour.

Stories, Culture & Interesting Lore

1. The “sweet leaf of the high country”

Syzygium anisatum naturally grows in:

• Cool, upland rainforests

• Moist gullies

• Misty escarpments of northern NSW

• High rainfall pockets near the Great Dividing Range

Because of this, the plant was viewed as a gift of the mountain spirit and associated with cool, clean air.

2. A plant of clarity and breath

Its powerful aroma made it a symbolic plant for:

• Mental clarity

• Lung clearing

• Opening awareness on journeys

• Calming the spirit during ceremonial or reflective moments

Some custodians describe it as a “wake-up plant” for its invigorating fragrance.

3. A protective shrub

Aniseed myrtle was often regarded as a guardian plant:

• Planted near camp edges

• Used to “freshen the path” when travelling

• Leaves used to sweep sleeping spaces

Its strong scent symbolised a barrier against unwanted energies or illness.

4. A plant that announces fertile country

Because it prefers deep, moist, unspoiled rainforest soils, its presence indicates:

• Healthy, rich land

• Consistent water

• Intact canopy depth

It is a marker of old, stable ecosystems.

Modern Uses

1. Herbal tea – one of Australia’s finest native teas

Aniseed myrtle is a popular modern tea ingredient:

• Strong anise/licorice aroma

• Sweet, warming flavour

• Naturally antimicrobial

• Rich in antioxidants

Popular in:

• Wellness teas

• Calm-breathing blends

• Cold-relief infusions

• Iced teas and syrups

2. Culinary use – a gourmet bushfood ingredient

A prized bush-tucker flavouring:

• Desserts (cakes, biscuits, cheesecakes)

• Custards & panna cotta

• Ice creams

• Fruit compotes

• Meat seasoning blends

• Sauces and glazes

• Cocktails and gins

Often used as a native alternative to anise, star anise, and fennel.

3. Aromatherapy & natural products

The essential oils are used in:

• Perfumes

• Natural deodorants

• Balms & chest rubs

• Massage oils

• Bath soaks

• Steamed inhalation products

4. Landscaping

A beautiful medium shrub/small tree with:

• Glossy green leaves

• Fragrant crushed foliage

• Small white flowers

Excellent for:

• Rainforest gardens

• Aromatic sensory walks

• Eco-accommodation plantings

• Privacy screens

5. An emerging essential oil species

The oil contains:

• Anethole (the compound in anise, fennel, star anise)

• Antibacterial & mild antifungal properties

Used increasingly in natural medicine and wellness industries.

Ecological Importance

Raw material for wildlife

Flowers attract:

• Native bees

• Hoverflies

• Beetles

• Small butterflies

Fruit (when produced) is eaten by:

• Birds

• Possums

• Fruit-eating mammals

Habitat & shelter

Dense foliage provides:

• Nesting spaces for small birds

• Cool microhabitats for frogs and insects

• Protective cover for understory creatures

Rainforest regeneration

Aniseed myrtle is a mid-story species contributing to:

• Moisture retention

• Shaded understory

• Soil protection in steep gullies

Fire sensitivity

• Highly fire-sensitive

• Grows in low-burn rainforest

• Re-establishes from surrounding seed banks after disturbance

It is a valuable indicator of long-unburnt, healthy rainforest.