Herbie’s Spices have launched a new spice mix in conjunction with Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) that is set to light up the Australian barbecue even more.

The new Brazilian Spice Mix was launched last week with the help of Brazilian chef Pauolo Siquerira and Better Homes and Gardens chef, Ed Halmagyi (aka Fast Ed).

Siquerira is a celebrated chef in Brazil and has been charged with the task of incorporating mushrooms into the Brazilian cuisine, because of the foods many health benefits.

Mushrooms are not a common menu item in the country, but with the help of the humble barbecue- Siquerira is looking to change that situation.

Managing director of AMGA, Greg Seymore, said the continuing discoveries into the health benefits of mushrooms make them not only a tasty addition to menus, but also a healthy one.

“The Chinese understand how good mushrooms are for the body, but western medicine does not have that, so we can’t say too much about it,” he said.

“Mushroom growers associations around the world are spending $10million in medical research to explore the health benefits.”

The new spice mix has been developed to help chefs and home cooks utilise mushrooms on the barbecue even more.

“Mushrooms are underrepresented on barbecues across Australia,” said Seymore.

“People use them in winter dishes and in summer salads- but not barbecues.”

Chef Halmagyi is equally impressed by mushrooms and an advocate for their inclusion on menus.

“The facts speak for themselves, when there is a dish with mushrooms on the menu, that dish will sell well. During June there is a food service event called mushroom mania, where chefs create dishes with mushrooms, those dishes sell five times as well as other dishes on the menu.”

The Brazilian Spice Mix will be available through Herbie’s and selected retailers. Food service operators can choose to purchase the spice mix in bulk quantities by contacting Herbie’s.