Old Man Saltbush

Name: Old Man Saltbush
SKU: HTOMSBK1
Price: 60.93 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock

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SKU: HTOMSBK1

Origin: Australia

Botanical: Atriplex nummularia

$60.93 - $710.94

Certified Organic

Australian Native

Atriplex nummularia

Available 250g – 5kg

HTOMSBK1: *

500g 1kg 250g 5kg Bulk Packs - Not individual units

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Product Details

About

Old Man Saltbush is a native Australian plant known for its salty, earthy flavour, often used in traditional and modern cooking. As a naturally occurring plant, it has been incorporated into various culinary dishes, particularly in bush food cuisine. While it offers potential health benefits due to its nutritional content, it's important to use Old Man Saltbush with a mindful approach, particularly if you're new to this unique ingredient.

As always, it's advisable to consult with healthcare professionals for personalised guidance on health concerns.

Benefits

1. Benefit: Contains high levels of minerals and antioxidants, beneficial for overall health.

2. Benefit: Adds a unique, salty flavour to dishes, enhancing culinary creativity.

3. Benefit: Suitable for bulk use in both home kitchens and professional settings across Australia.

Directions of Use

1. Rinse the Old Man Saltbush leaves thoroughly under cold water.

2. Chop or crumble the leaves into small pieces as needed.

3. Add to your dishes during cooking, seasoning to taste.

4. Can be used as a substitute for salt in various recipes.

5. Store any unused leaves in an airtight, eco-friendly container below 23°C.

Specifications

Botanical:	Atriplex nummularia
Origin:	Australia
Organoleptic Statement:	Earthy, salty aroma and flavour
Ingredient Declaration:	100% Organic Old Man Saltbush Leaves
Shelf Life:	2+ years dependent upon storage conditions
Packaging:	Food grade bio-degradable materials
Processing:	The product has been frozen to reduce the risk of insect contamination
Allergen Summary Statement:	No Known Allergens. Trace elements may be present due to farming practices
	The Herbal Connection make no Allergen Free claims.

Have confidence knowing The Herbal Connection is proudly Certified Organic and HACCP Certified. Certificates available via FAQ page. We import directly into Australia and are proud to be as Eco-Friendly as possible. When available, all packaging materials are either recycled cartons or Bio-Degradable bags.

Warnings: This product isn't intended to treat, cure or prevent any illnesses. Always consult a healthcare professional before consuming any herbal products for health purposes especially if you're pregnant or taking medication.

Additional Information

Old Man Saltbush

$60.93 - $710.94

Choose Options

Old Man Saltbush

$60.93 - $710.94

HTOMSBK1 * 500g 1kg 250g 5kg Bulk Packs - Not individual units

Old Man Saltbush — Certified Organic Atriplex nummularia

Certified Organic Old Man Saltbush Leaves (Atriplex nummularia) — one of Australia's most significant and widespread native food plants, and a herb that occupies a genuinely unique culinary position: it is both a native seasoning and a natural salt substitute, with leaves that accumulate sodium from the soil and deposit salt crystals on their surface. Old Man Saltbush is a large, long-lived shrub native to the arid and semi-arid interior of Australia — one of the most iconic plants of the outback — and has been a food source for Aboriginal peoples of the inland country for tens of thousands of years, with the seeds, leaves, and stems all used traditionally. The dried leaves have an earthy, salty, slightly mineral character that functions both as a herb and as a seasoning in its own right.

Naturally caffeine-free. No known allergens. Certified organic. Available in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 5kg bulk. This product is sold as a food only. Note: please check current availability before ordering as supply can be seasonal.

Product Specifications

Botanical Atriplex nummularia

Common Names Old Man Saltbush; Giant Saltbush

Origin Australia — arid and semi-arid inland regions

Organic Status Certified Organic

Ingredient 100% Organic Old Man Saltbush Leaves

Appearance Dried leaves — earthy, salty aroma and flavour

Flavour Profile Salty, earthy, slightly mineral — functions as both herb and seasoning

Caffeine None — naturally caffeine-free

Allergens No known allergens. Trace elements may be present due to farming practices.

Processing Freeze-treated to reduce the risk of insect contamination

Sizes Available 250g, 500g, 1kg, 5kg bulk (not individual units)

Shelf Life 2+ years when stored correctly

Storage Below 23°C in a dark, dry, airtight container

Old Man Saltbush — FAQs

Everything you need to know before you order.

What is Old Man Saltbush and why is it salty?

Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is a large, long-lived native shrub from the chenopod family, one of the most widespread and ecologically significant plants of Australia's arid and semi-arid interior. It grows across vast areas of inland New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria — one of the defining plants of the Australian outback. The saltiness is not artificial or added — it is a natural physiological adaptation. The plant actively absorbs sodium ions from the soil and secretes salt crystals onto the surface of its leaves via specialised salt glands, allowing it to survive in saline soils where most other plants cannot. This mechanism makes the leaves genuinely, naturally salty, with a mineral quality that functions as both an aromatic herb and a seasoning simultaneously.

What is the traditional background of Saltbush?

Old Man Saltbush has been used by Aboriginal peoples of inland Australia for tens of thousands of years. The leaves were eaten directly as a vegetable and used as a seasoning, the seeds were ground into a flour-like paste, and the plant was a significant food source for communities living in the arid interior where fresh food resources are scarce. The shrub's ability to accumulate salt also made it a natural source of mineral nutrition in environments where dietary sodium would otherwise be difficult to obtain. Today, saltbush is also one of the most significant grazing plants for sheep in outback Australia — and livestock that graze on saltbush develop a distinctly flavoured meat known as "saltbush lamb," which has become a premium product in Australian fine dining.

How is Old Man Saltbush used in cooking?

Saltbush is one of the most versatile native herbs in the culinary pantry because of its dual role as herb and salt. As a rub and crust: crumble or grind the dried leaves and use as a native herb rub for lamb, beef, chicken, and game — the natural saltiness seasons the meat as it cooks. As a seasoning: can partially or fully replace salt in spice blends, marinades, and dressings, adding an earthy, mineral depth that plain salt doesn't provide. In bread and baking: fold into damper, focaccia, flatbreads, and crackers. In sauces and sides: crumble into compound butters, aioli, or vegetable dishes. As a finishing herb: scatter over roasted vegetables, grilled meats, and seafood at the plate. Use more sparingly than you might a conventional herb as the saltiness can build quickly.

What is the connection between Saltbush and premium lamb?

"Saltbush lamb" refers to lambs raised on properties where Old Man Saltbush is a primary component of the grazing pasture. The saltbush imparts its distinctive earthy, slightly salty, mineral flavour to the fat of the lamb — creating a meat that is naturally seasoned from the inside out and has a more complex, nuanced flavour than conventionally grazed lamb. It has become a premium product line in Australian fine dining and exports, and represents one of the most direct expressions of Australian terroir in food. Using dried saltbush as a rub or crust on conventional lamb is the closest approximation of this flavour profile achievable in a kitchen without access to saltbush-grazed product.

Is this product certified organic?

Yes — certified organic. The ingredient declaration confirms 100% Organic Old Man Saltbush Leaves. The Herbal Connection is a Certified Organic business operating from our 5-Star Eat Safe licensed facility on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

What sizes are available?

Old Man Saltbush is available in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 5kg bulk packs. The 5kg is bulk packed, not individual units. Supply can be seasonal — please contact our office to confirm current availability before placing large orders. We ship Australia-wide from our Gold Coast warehouse.