The Macadamia is a native rainforest
tree known to the Aboriginals as Kindal Kindal. Its home is the
rich volcanic soils of northern New South Wales and South East Queensland
where it thrives in the warm sub-tropical climate and high annual
rainfall.
There are two species being Macadamia integrifolia (smooth shelled)
and Macadamia tetraphylla (rough shelled). The Macadamia integrifolia
forms the basis of all macadamias cultivated commercially today.
The trees have shiny dark green leaves, and grow to a height of
12 to 15 metres. It can take up to nine years before a tree bears
sufficient nuts to be commercially productive. When in flower each
tree has a multitude of long, delicate, sweet-smelling white blossoms.
Each spray of 40 - 50 flowers produces from four to fifteen 'nutlets'
which will eventually ripen into nuts.
The nuts themselves grow encased in a hard, woody shell, which
is protected by a green-brown fibrous husk. After harvesting, the
fibrous outer husk is removed and the husk material is recycled
as organic mulch onto the farm.
The nuts are harvested between April and September and are picked
up by a combination of mechanical harvesting and hand-picking after
they fall to the ground. The hard shell is removed with highly specialised
machinery, which cracks the tough shell of the macadamia without
damaging the precious kernel within.
The oil is made by cold-pressing choice select macadamia nuts.
As always, the best nuts make the best oil. It takes 100 kilos of
the highest quality nuts to make 40 kg of premium-grade oil. The
oil is free of any additives, is not chemically treated and is GM
free. |