Nyoongar Bush Tucker

Carpobrotus virescens - Nyoongar, kolbogo

Click here to check out some photos and descriptions of the traditional foods consumed by the Nyoongar people of South Western Australia. Various foods were consumed during different seasons.

One of the issues that I will be highlighting in my blogs with regards to the consumption of Nyoongar traditional foods, especially fruits such as kobogo (or koolbong, see below) is that these are often bitter and unpalatable, and sometimes toxic, unless they are fully ripened.  Ripeness is generally determined by natural indicators, such as the presence of birds, insects and small animals which also compete for these sometimes scarce food sources.

This is a cross section of the native Carpobrotus virescens fruit

Carpobrotus virescens or coastal pigface is known in Nyoongar as 'kolbogo' (or  golboy, 'johnny koolbong, also mejaruk). This is a prostrate, perennial succulent creeper which grows in the coastal sand dune and limestone belt of southwestern Australia. Its distinctive pink flower distinguishes it from its South African relative Carpobrotus edulis (or Hottentot Fig) which commonly has a yellow flower. The latter is often mistaken for the native pigface as both grow prolifically in the same environment.  The fruit of both plants are edible, ripening at different times of the year. For more information on the food and medicinal uses of Carpobrotus virescens or native pigface among the traditional Nyoongar of southwestern Australia, click here.