All Things Aussie: 4 Things To Get Excited About From Down Under

Here’s a good Jeopardy word: Australophile. It means someone who expresses love of Australia’s culture, land, heritage, and people. Many Americans fit that description, fascinated by all things Aussie. In fact, prior to the pandemic, Australia ranked as the number-one place Americans wanted to travel to. 

And why wouldn’t we want to go there? The land Down Under calls to us with its vast Outback, famous beaches, exotic animals, and iconic landmarks. We find the people of Australia charming, with their amiable accent and witty slang. “Our relaxed nature permeates our language, our food, and how we live our lives. Americans kind of aspire to live the Aussie way, I think, and that drives their curiosity and enthusiasm for products that make their way over to America,” says Catherine Golding, a “Sydney-sider” (native of Sydney) and North American business development manager for True Aussie Beef & Lamb, the promotional arm of the Australian meat industry based in Washington D.C. 

Americans’ love of all things Aussie is fueling a dynamic marketplace in this country of unique food products that deliver an authentic taste of Oz. “From a food perspective, Australia is a country that’s seen as ‘green and clean,’ which ticks a lot of boxes for American consumers. There’s a sense of trust with Australia, a sense that we’ll do it right, especially when it comes to anything that’s raised or produced here,” says Golding. 

That perception most likely flows from the overall cultural feel of Australia—the one that Americans are enamored with. We see Oz as a special, free-spirited place with wide-open spaces. Its food culture embodies that, swirling in the Aussies’ relaxed-almost-cheeky national personality, which makes it fun and inviting for Americans to explore. 

The “Aussie effect” has increased the fascination in the U.S. with Aussie culture and brought more Aussie-inspired products to market. Here are four of our favorites for you to try: 

1. Chicken Salt 

Order chips (fries in the U.S.) in Australia and chances are they’ll be served with a generous shake of chicken salt. Savory and aromatic, this (ironically vegetarian) condiment is a national icon, and typically includes onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, and curry powder. Inspired by that umami-rich flavor combination, you can find variations on chicken salt in this country. Chook Chicken Salt goes for a salty, meaty, roasty flavor with its version, made from powdered chicken chicharrones, chanterelle mushrooms and tomato, along with a bit of sweet curry. Whatever type you find, chicken salt is a national treasure! It elevates the flavor on so many things—try it on corn on the cob, roasted veggies, popcorn…. 

2. Lamb Charcuterie

Aussie lamb is enjoyed all over the world, appreciated for its mild taste and naturally lean, tender profile. Those wide-open spaces? They serve as abundant pasturelands giving the lamb free-range. Aussie Select Deli Meats is a new company of artisan butchers that sources this pristine product from Australia and hand-crafts it into intriguing premium deli items available in select U.S. grocery stores and restaurants. Look for lamb pastrami, agave rosemary lamb ham, and tikka masala lamb ham—perfect for charcuterie boards, fancy sandwiches, or gourmet pizza toppers—or really anywhere you might use prosciutto or salami. “American consumers recognize that the provenance of Australian lamb is a marker of quality. Our unique deli meats offer an accessible, easy way to enjoy Aussie lamb,” says Jaclyn Glatzer, president, and COO of Aussie Select.

3. Aussie Spices: Lemon Myrtle & Pepper Berry

Lemon myrtle is more citrusy than any other herb or spice with undertones of eucalyptus. It’s native to the coastal regions of Australia, growing wild there for thousands of years. It lacks the acidity of citrus fruits but brings the intense citrus flavor—lemon myrtle shines most in items that cook for a short amount of time rather than in long braises or stews. Try it on grilled rainbow trout, shrimp or chicken breasts, or add it to split pea or butter squash soup. 

If you’re looking for a new way to get your fix of spicy heat, check out Australia’s pepper berry. It grows on the highlands of Tasmania and is wild harvested. “It has the most interesting, gentle heat, hitting the back of the palate,” says John Byberg, owner of Bush Dreams, a company that has been selling native Australian seasonings in North America for more than 15 years. “Pepperberry is our number-one selling product. It’s great on everything from wild game and chicken to French fries,” he says. 

4. Aussie Wines

Take a walk through a wine shop today and you’ll notice that the Australian section has broken out of its single-aisle status. Australia is one of the most dynamic wine regions in the world today. Yes, Shiraz can still be a good bet, but venture further and try a toasty, elegant Riesling from the Eden Valley or a rounded, structured Chardonnay from Margaret River. Like many Aussie products found in America today, these delicious, unique wines are surprising and delighting the growing numbers of Australophiles.