I grew up with Vegemite as the major toast accompaniment at breakfast time. This doesn’t make me special – pretty much every kid I know has eaten it at some stage of their life and at every daily meal. From being thinly spread on rusks as babies, the traditional toast option at breakky, scraped on holey crackers to make squeeze-through ‘worms’ as schoolkids for smoko (my favourites were Vita-Wheat biccies), and even added to gravies for flavour at dinner.
…
For those who aren’t Aussie, and who didn’t get to wake up with Vegemite’s heavy salty flavour slathered over hot buttered toast, here are a couple of vital facts about this most Aussie of condiments.
– The spread was the brainchild of a Mr Fred Walker (who started the company which would become Kraft Foods) and fully developed by a serious scientist called Dr Cyril P Callister (whose impressive name evokes the image of some kind of cartoon hero) in the 1920s. So Fred and Cyril are responsible for our black gooey toast. Onya boys!
– It is a rich source of Vitamin B… and yes, it is basically made from leftover beer stuff. Talk about recycling! I feel totally green just talking about it!
– It was almost called ‘Parwill’ (to combat its major English rival – with the clever tag: if Marmite then Parwill). Luckily Fred saw the light and let a random Australian choose the final moniker in a competition – the winner’s name is long lost but the entry is now firmly embedded in Aussie lore.
– The Happy Little Vegemites jingle (still in use today!) was first used in 1954 (see final clip on this post)
– It just tastes great… (as long as you like things a little salty!)
…
In the interests of community education on black condiment use, I am also adding a ‘how to’ for the spreading of vegemite. According to my research (alright, I just whipped over to the official vegemite site) I am a streaker and a wormer.
Hey, this is a serious information blog.
So pay attention!
…
First unscrew jar… allow aroma to work its way into your nostrils. Your senses need to get used to that intense salty hit your tastebuds are about to experience! You need to give them a little warning… Then grab some Sao biscuits (you can also use toast, English muffins or any kind of salt crackers). Now slather some butter on…
This in not time to be shy – butter and vegemite were born to be together! Now load up your knife with the good black stuff… don’t go silly with it, a good scrape is all you need. Now apply … my personal preference is for coverage with the butter still peeping through.
(According to the Vegemite website, that makes me a Streaker. My mother will be so proud!)
But if you are a beginner, go light. You can always add more later! Now chomp… mmmmmm.
Expect salty and buttery… (Note to self: Try not to eat the ENTIRE Sao before you finish explantion!) …
If you have survived a straight vegemite experience, I would also recommend some avocado on top of your Vegemite … it’s a meal, baby!
And before I leave, I give you one of the orginal Vegemite ads with that famous song…
Oh, I am more of a streaker than you I think. Bit too much on those Saos there. Gosh, haven't had Saos for yonks. Can't beat it on fresh white bread, with loads of butter – real butter.
I don't think you'll convince our overseas friends. I sent some to Elizabeth in Canada once, and she wasn't impressed!
HAHAHA! Loved the old commercial. Never tried Vegemite, though.
Just popping in from the lake and spending an hour catching up before dashing back up again for the last week of Cottage Time. Hey, I found some Arnott biscuits at the grocery store last week – TimTams with caramel? Oh, baby. Another reason to visit.
Ok loved this post! I've always been intrigued by Vegemite and now i know everything about it. I must admit that i've only eaten it once and didn't love it…but it was 15 or 16 yrs ago. I think i need to try it again with more mature taste buds 🙂 My seminary teacher was from New Zealand and he let us all try it one day. He lived on it…
I shall try it again.
I do love Arnotts though. They make these awesome chocolate cookie things that my roommate discovered in Australia 🙂 and we are all addicted now. Problem is that they are really hard to find over here. Sad.
Oh, good grief, BB!!! You have thoroughly educated this Yank. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I always thought Vegemite was a myth, a joke, a Saturday Night Live commercial! And now you tell me it's real!!!
Hello there – I just discovered your blog today and it is great! I am engaged to an Englishman and, being American, had never had vegemite until I met him. I tried to like it – I really did – but it just isn't going to happen. I think you have to be raised on the stuff to actually think it is good!!!
HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you know I have managed to convert some Americans to eat Vegemite!!! No joke!!! Put strict instructions on my blog, and then have taught my family too – oh and my little vegemite will be brought up on vegemite too!!!! He is a happy little vegemite, happy as can be!!!!!!
a friend of mine is originally from jersey. she does love her marmite. i find it to be one of the more vile things to be produced by britain which includes over cooked broccoli and potatoes boiled within an inch of their lives. somehow i can't help but think that vegemite would be similar.
i'd rather get my vitamin b from a vitamin tablet.
hmm…leavings from beer production, huh? considering i'm allergic to the hops in beer…
You know, I exported this taste sensation to South Africa a few years ago – although it was with the addition of the avocado (and the squeeze of lemon juice and a little cracked pepper).
Although the white bread with butter and vegemite (especially fresh white bread) is a ritual we should give to our children.
Sob – mine doesn't like vegemite.
V, being an import, likes it with peanut paste – go figure.
We’ve just GOTTA get these North Americans educated early, don’t we? A school campaign perhaps?
🙂
.-= Bush Babe´s last blog ..Tit for Tat (the no shade hat) =-.
17 Comments
traceelements
Oh, I am more of a streaker than you I think. Bit too much on those Saos there. Gosh, haven't had Saos for yonks. Can't beat it on fresh white bread, with loads of butter – real butter.
I don't think you'll convince our overseas friends. I sent some to Elizabeth in Canada once, and she wasn't impressed!
Debby
I know some rosy cheeked kids at Granite Glen who must eat the stuff at breakfast, lunch and dinner, all three!
This post was cute. Someday, I'll try Vegemite. And hope the salt does not cause my eyeballs to burst.
A Novel Woman
HAHAHA! Loved the old commercial. Never tried Vegemite, though.
Just popping in from the lake and spending an hour catching up before dashing back up again for the last week of Cottage Time. Hey, I found some Arnott biscuits at the grocery store last week – TimTams with caramel? Oh, baby. Another reason to visit.
MissyBoo
I like my vegemite exactly the same way you do – and now after those photos, I'm off to make some vegemite on Sao's 🙂
Kate
Ok loved this post! I've always been intrigued by Vegemite and now i know everything about it. I must admit that i've only eaten it once and didn't love it…but it was 15 or 16 yrs ago. I think i need to try it again with more mature taste buds 🙂 My seminary teacher was from New Zealand and he let us all try it one day. He lived on it…
I shall try it again.
I do love Arnotts though. They make these awesome chocolate cookie things that my roommate discovered in Australia 🙂 and we are all addicted now. Problem is that they are really hard to find over here. Sad.
Mom L
Oh, good grief, BB!!! You have thoroughly educated this Yank. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I always thought Vegemite was a myth, a joke, a Saturday Night Live commercial! And now you tell me it's real!!!
Nancy in Iowa
suzinoz
That's far too much Vegemite for me. Our little people love the stuff though. I really do think you have to grow up with it to truly appreciate it.
jociegal
Hello there – I just discovered your blog today and it is great! I am engaged to an Englishman and, being American, had never had vegemite until I met him. I tried to like it – I really did – but it just isn't going to happen. I think you have to be raised on the stuff to actually think it is good!!!
aussiechic
HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you know I have managed to convert some Americans to eat Vegemite!!! No joke!!! Put strict instructions on my blog, and then have taught my family too – oh and my little vegemite will be brought up on vegemite too!!!! He is a happy little vegemite, happy as can be!!!!!!
dykewife
a friend of mine is originally from jersey. she does love her marmite. i find it to be one of the more vile things to be produced by britain which includes over cooked broccoli and potatoes boiled within an inch of their lives. somehow i can't help but think that vegemite would be similar.
i'd rather get my vitamin b from a vitamin tablet.
hmm…leavings from beer production, huh? considering i'm allergic to the hops in beer…
T Lee
Your post was quite educational, but the comments have me LOL!!
I agree with the consesus that one must be brought up on it!
Debby
hmm…leavings from beer production, huh? considering i'm allergic to the hops in beer…
*gets out megaphone*
DYKEWIFE! DON'T EAT THE VEGEMITE!
(This has been a public service announcement. Thank you.)
*puts megaphone away*
Another crisis averted because of the quick thinking Debby!
jeanie
ha ha ha – well done, Debby.
You know, I exported this taste sensation to South Africa a few years ago – although it was with the addition of the avocado (and the squeeze of lemon juice and a little cracked pepper).
Although the white bread with butter and vegemite (especially fresh white bread) is a ritual we should give to our children.
Sob – mine doesn't like vegemite.
V, being an import, likes it with peanut paste – go figure.
Quite apt – word verification is "nutchu"
Anonymous
That stuff should go good with Ovaltine, me thinks? Bill
Woman in a Window
You got peanut butter?
I had vegemite once.
Once was enough for me.
Sorry.
kurrajong
so what do you think of the "new" vegemite?
i actually prefer it to the original. It is not as strong and you don't need butter.
Bush Babe
We’ve just GOTTA get these North Americans educated early, don’t we? A school campaign perhaps?
🙂
.-= Bush Babe´s last blog ..Tit for Tat (the no shade hat) =-.