Did you know that macadamia nuts – loved for their rich, buttery flavour – are the only Australian native food to become a global sensation and major export? Yet, surprisingly, most Aussies think they come from Hawaii!

This misconception is finally set straight in The Macadamia – Australia’s Gift to the World, a comprehensive new book by Ian McConachie AM, a true macadamia expert and lifelong enthusiast.

Ian takes us on an intriguing journey, from the days when macadamias were enjoyed exclusively by First Nations Australians to their subsequent spread across the globe. You’ll discover incredible stories of innovation, including the invention of machines to crack their famously hard shells, and learn how macadamias travelled from Australia to the other side of the world, with Hawaii playing a key role in their rise as a beloved orchard crop.

Ian McConachie grew up in Brisbane in the 1940s, a time when it was common for families to have a macadamia and a mango tree in their backyard. 

“We used to crack them in a vice and put them in a frying pan with butter to roast them, and then the whole family would love them. That’s where I developed my taste and passion for the macadamia nut.”

But the true heart of this story concerns Australia’s wild macadamia trees, the rare rainforest species from which all the world’s macadamias descend. Today, these wild trees face serious threat from land clearing and habitat loss.

The best part? All proceeds from sales of the book go directly to the Macadamia Conservation Trust to help protect wild macadamias and their natural habitat.

Whether you’re a food lover, history buff, or passionate about Australian conservation, this book is a must-read – and a beautiful way to give back to the species that has given us such a special and nourishing food..

Grab your copy today and help protect Australia’s precious wild macadamias.