NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.The following notes have been extracted, with the authors' permission from a series of Agnotes, most of which were developed by Ian Knox, of the Oz Rural Web site (http://www.ozrural.com), for the database of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which can also be accessed through the NRE Web site (http://www.nre.vic.gov.au).
Product
Caraway oil is an essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of the fruit of the caraway plant (Carum carvi), an annual (or sometimes a biennial) herb. Caraway oil is used in the culinary trade for seasoning in sauces, breads, meat and cheese and also in mouthwash, toothpaste, perfumes and cosmetics because of its 'clean, fresh' taste. It is also used in some pharmaceutical products to improve the taste of such products.
The two main components of caraway oil are carvone and limonene, both of which can be produced synthetically. With the recent trend to natural products, demand for the natural product appears to be increasing. Caraway is a native of southern Europe and today it is grown as an annual herb crop in Europe (particularly Holland and England) and in the USA. Production requirements are described in the Agriculture Note available through http://www.ozrural.com or http://www.nre.vic.gov.au
Marketing
Domestic consumption of caraway oil is small so any sizeable production would need to be exported. World markets of essential oils are dominated by large fragrance and flavour companies, supplemented by traders, brokers and agents. End-users of essential oils tend to maintain their sources in an effort to maintain consistent quality. Hence, it is difficult for new producers to break into existing markets.
For further information, contact:
Royston Petrie Seeds Pty Ltd
PO Box 77
77 Kenthurst Road
Kenthurst NSW 2156
Telephone: 02 9654 1186
Facsimile: 02 9654 2658
Email: roseed@bigpond.com
Bush Boake Allen Aust Ltd
310 Dandenong Valley Highway
Dandenong Victoria 3175
Telephone: 03 9768 3668
Facsimile: 03 9768 3652
Bronson and Jacobs Pty Ltd
Parkview Drive, Australia Centre
Homebush NSW 2140
Telephone: 02 9394 3288
Facsimile: 02 9394 3222
Farm Diversification Information Service
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Bendigo, Victoria 3550
Telephone: 1800 150 515 or 03 5430 4444
References
Essential Oils in Bendigo District
Available from NRE Bendigo
AUD15+postage
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 17 October 2001 by: RF