Please Educate Me / Vegemite

I've never seen, nor tasted Vegemite.
There seems to be an Internet storm about the amount of Vegemite spread over toast by a celebrity.

OK, I really like Sriracha on Thai food. I like hot or very hot salsa on much more than Mexican food.

On this forum I've seen snide remarks and outright snickering about Vegemite. Others seemed to be enthralled about the product. I feel that I may be missing out on something that is really good once a taste is acquired for the product. (Sort of like Scotch.)

The dumb questions are:
What does it taste like?
Should I make the effort to see if I can find it here in the US?
Are there other brand names of what ever Vegemite is?

Health food of a nation! If you do try it use it very sparingly on the first try as the taste is very strong. I think this is where a lot of people who try it for the first time go wrong. If you want I will buy some and send it to you.

It is considered to be un-Australian to not like Vegemite. As Chris says, best not to spread it thickly.
Cheese and Vegemite sandwiches used to be pretty much the staple school lunch for kids.

so it's a yeast extract. Was initially created by taking used yeast from brewing. If I had to describe it like a taste sensation you've had already, I'd say it's somewhat reminiscent of soy sauce, in that it has flavours that are high-umami and high-salt, and the "brew" aspect of the yeast is somewhat shared. But it's not just thick soy sauce, it's much more intense than that. But that's at least an interesting starting flavour profile that will either make you steer clear or try it out.

It certainly is worth a try; like many, I enjoy it thick on toast. It seems that there are US sellers on amazon if you want to try it, like this one selling this one.

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Originally Posted by poundy

so it's a yeast extract. Was initially created by taking used yeast from brewing. If I had to describe it like a taste sensation you've had already, I'd say it's somewhat reminiscent of soy sauce, in that it has flavours that are high-umami and high-salt, and the "brew" aspect of the yeast is somewhat shared. But it's not just thick soy sauce, it's much more intense than that. But that's at least an interesting starting flavour profile that will either make you steer clear or try it out.

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That about sums it up. If I had to compare it to anything, I'd say it tastes like beef stock in the same way a snake tastes like chicken. :rolleyes:

Apart from it's widespread use as a sandwich spread - it goes great in ham & salad sandwiches too! - it's also often used in the basics of making a hearty veggie soup stock.

Try it
I notice most women spread it very sparingly, but I actually like it spread thick,

But then it was a common lunch sandwich spread when I was kid(I had know food choices being number 5 out of six kids, eat it or go hungry)

Cheers Matt

Has the US released it's import ban on it?

Last I heard it was considered a vitamin supplement by the US Govt and as it didn't have the appropriate certifications it couldn't be imported.

Or at least, that's what I'm told by US customs every time they confiscate my jars of Vegemite when we stopover on the way to Canada.

(Which is one of my soap-box topics, but I'll spare us all and won't get started here. ;) )

If that has changed... :2tsup:

I thought it was banned because it contained folate?

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Apart from it's widespread use as a sandwich spread - it goes great in ham & salad sandwiches too! - it's also often used in the basics of making a hearty veggie soup stock.

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Marmite from the UK is probably the nearest thing to it but still not "Vegemite".

When the jar is all but empty, we rinse it out to make a juice that the dogs like on their food.

Ash Barty, our tennis champ, is sponsored by Vegemite and there has a been a promotion with the jars labelled as "Bartymite"

When our kids were little, they used to call it "Mightyveg" so it is known by that in our house.

You might want to watch this from about 10:30 YouTube No, that is not the recommended way to eat vegimite. As others have said, spread it thinly on bread, toast or savory biscuits. It is salty and that is probably why the pets love it. Also note the comment at 22:56.

Vegimite; the Australian secret training food at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

once you get hold of some spread on bread however thick you are game to try, then add peanut butter to the other slice...:oo: seriously its great, but then I like chewing leather boots as well.

Yes, We've had a few folk from the USA here who've tried it and suggested we were trying to poison them, but they were teenagers.

I like it thick especially with a even thicker layer of avocado or just plain on a cracker biscuit for morning tea.

Used to have Vegemite on toast as a kid with a poached egg on top as a treat at my grans.

As others have said, spread thinly for the first taste test over a good thick layer of butter, yum!

Cheers, crowie.

PS - Here's a youtube of the vegemite song


YouTube

Amanda Palmer - We're Happy Little Vegemites Lyrics | AZLyrics.com

Please note that Vegimite in no longer owned by "Kraft". It is now owned, since 2017, by Bega Cheese.
Vegemite - Wikipedia

one has mentioned the "healing properties" of Vegemite. When you are recovering from the Flu or what ever a Sao Biscuit (Cracker biscuit with neutral taste) with Vegemite is something you have to start the recovery. Spread thinly over the biscuit and your appetite will return.

Vegemite toast and poached egg:2tsup:is the way to start a day.

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Originally Posted by Chesand

Marmite from the UK is probably the nearest thing to it but still not "Vegemite".

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Considering that Marmite and Vegemite are both yeast extract spreads it’s remarkable how different they are; Marmite is an incredibly thick, viscous liquid while Vegemite has the appearance and consistency of overheated axle grease; just not as tasty. Both fall under the “Love it or hate it” banner; I don’t know anyone on the planet who actually likes both. Marmite is available in Aussie supermarkets but is renamed “Our Mate” because Sanatorium already use that name to market their abomination.

In the UK you can buy Marmite flavoured potato chips, Marmite flavoured peanut butter and one Easter they produced a Marmite chocolate egg. That was a challenge....:rolleyes:

Back to the original post; it’s something you can’t properly describe, you really have to try it. I would say the best way to introduce yourself to it would be THINLY spread it on hot buttered toast. Yes, it’s a bit of an acquired taste; but once you’ve tried it, hated it, tried it again, realised you were right the first time and then tried Marmite you’ll agree it was well worth the effort.

Forgot to mention; Vegemite thickly smeared behind the ears is an extremely effective drop-bear repellant. The laziest carnivore on the planet won’t go near the stuff.

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Originally Posted by Chesand

It is considered to be un-Australian to not like Vegemite.

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So be it. As far as I'm concerned, Vegemite is not food :no:

Attachment 470078

Bartymite from our pantry

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I'd say it tastes like beef stock in the same way a snake tastes like chicken.

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It can be used as a beef stock too. Or if you want to make a nice onion & tomato sauce for a steak, mix in a little vegemite. Also, if you're cycling on cold mornings, an insulated bidon with vegemite broth will warm you up nicely.

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

So be it. As far as I'm concerned, Vegemite is not food :no:

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Yep. In our family of five I'm the only one who eats it (and even so, far prefer Bovril). People like to wax lyrical over national love for a spread that contrary to popular myth, is not loved by all, by a long shot in my experience.

Feeling washed out after recovering from an illness a while ago, I thought I would make try the fabled Vegimite hearty healthy drink (one heaped teaspoon in a mug of water). One sip and a gag saw it dumped down the sink and replaced with a cup-a-soup. I won't try that again!

Is it anything like miso?

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

So be it. As far as I'm concerned, Vegemite is not food :no:

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booo hiss get off this forum we are Australians here. :D

Just like Heinz did a Tomato Ketchup run called Edchup (Ed Sherran liked it so much). Current batches of Vegemite have been coming out labeled Bartymite because they are sponsoring Ash Barty (Tennis player).

Other than those with more extreme opinions about Vegemite, the last few frames of this advertisment give a good idea of what I think is the most commonly amount spread on toast. Sure some like a little more and some a little less, but aim for a see through layer at first taste. I think the slice Ash actually bites into looks spread for one who likes a little bit more. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3t3S4blwiY

Rich

Vegemite is one of a group of similar "spreads" that include Marmite, Promite and Bovril. if you come from the UK you like Marmite, but hate Vegemite and vice versa. The irony is that many people think that both are meat extract when in fact they are vegetable (yeast) extracts. Marmite dates from 1902 and Vegemite from 1922. I am not surprised Americans don't like it and believe we are trying to poison them. What can you expect from a nation that doesn't include beetroot on their "works" hamburgers?

Each of the "ite" products is defended by their fans with a ferocity quite out of proportion to their status in society or maybe it is in proportion. When the toilet roll issue has been settled (courtesy of Covid-19), Vegemite could well be the next product to be in short supply. :wink:

Regards
Paul

Urban legend (?) contends the original name given to Vegemite when it was formulated to compete with Marmite was Pawill.

If marmite pawill Archives - Twisted History | Limelight Tours

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Originally Posted by Tonyz

booo hiss get off this forum we are Australians here. :D

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Well then you're really not gonna like me when I tell you that I couldn't give a rat's about the footy... :p

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Well then you're really not gonna like me when I tell you that I couldn't give a rat's about the footy... :p

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In view of the very helpful information you have provided over the years, we will overlook that.:D:D

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Originally Posted by dmorse

Is it anything like miso?

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No.


Last year I spent a couple of months in Japan and got to eat (drink?) a fair amount of miso soup. Before being there I didn't like it at all. After spending that time there and getting it for most breakfasts* and evening meals, I will now sort of tolerate it.

I quite like vegemite. Especially thinly spread on buttered toast (the toast has to be warm, but not so hot the butter liquefies). As for taste, I think it was Poundy said, like soy sauce. A _bit_ like a soy sauce (or ponzu sauce).

* also had a discussion which was the worst breakfast food with a Japanese guy. He didn't like vegemite, but I noted the hands down winner must be Japanese "natto". If you don't know what that is, consider yourself lucky (seriously).

Regards
SWK

Have eaten Vegemite on warm butter melted toast as well as Vegemite and a good strong cheese everyday since I was a kid. I was a kid in the days of black and white bordering on sepia.

Always have 2 bottles at home just to ensure we don’t run out. Curious observation, I have always had to pay full price as I have never, ever seen it on special - very curious.

Have been overseas on a number of occasions and resorted to the plastic tubes of Vegemite, it would be an absolute disaster should a bottle break in your luggage due to the “delicate” luggage handling practices of airport crews.

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Originally Posted by swk

...... natto

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I actually got past just "tolerating" Natto. 2 years ago after I broke my arm I was introduced to natto as the best natural source of vitamin K2 which is reportedly very beneficial for bone growth. I ended up having it for lunch every second day for about 4 months. The first couple of weeks were challenging but after that it was just lunch.

The WORST thing about natto is the texture, not the taste. :D

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Originally Posted by Fuzzie

The WORST thing about natto is the texture, not the taste. :D

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(Actually the natto wasn't as bad as I'd been lead to believe. My biggest problem with it is avoiding getting the slime strings in my beard. Still, after about 3 tries, not high on my list of things I ever want to do again)

Regards
SWK

Something I shudder at the thought of is peanut butter & jelly (is that jam??) sandwiches which I hear about.

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Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Something I shudder at the thought of is peanut butter & jelly (is that jam??) sandwiches which I hear about.

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Me too Chris, though I've seen people have peanut paste and honey
[peanut paste is what it was marketed as when I was a boy growing up in Queensland]

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Well then you're really not gonna like me when I tell you that I couldn't give a rat's about the footy... :p

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Love you my brother AFL
Anti
footbull
licking

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Originally Posted by dmorse

Is it anything like miso?

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Other than being salty, no.

Vegemite have had 25% reduced salt for a while now, and have just introduced 40% reduced salt. I prefer the standard Vegemite, and plenty of it!

Alan...

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Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Something I shudder at the thought of is peanut butter & jelly (is that jam??) sandwiches which I hear about.

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A quote that I saved a while ago:

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Jelly is basically fruit juice with gelatin or pectin used to make it solid. Jam is puréed fruit with maybe a bit of gelatin or pectin added for consistency or just relying on natural pectin.
Gelatin is a mix of proteins, generally in a powder that crosslink and make things have a stiffer or gummy texture. It is mostly collagen but definitely has other components.
Pectin is a plant derived polysaccharide that functions like gelatin but generally contains no protein.

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OK,
P B & J or P B & Honey

My mother's philosophy was If she cooked it, I would eat it. Sit at the table until it is gone. When she wasn't looking I would scrape it into the garbage disposal. She wasn't the greatest cook in the world either.

About an hour later P B & J would save the day. Just on the bread not a sandwich. No sense in wasting the bread.

On Wednesday the school lunch was P B & Honey. Not great but ice cream for desert saved the day.

Ok, you've convinced me. I'll try it. Ordered from Amazon.

First test will be the on the recommended buttered toast in place of my usual granulated garlic and mushroom bouillon.

If that goes well I'll probably try it on a peanut butter sandwich. Or maybe a grilled peanut butter, bacon, and cheese sandwich.

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Originally Posted by dmorse

First test will be the on the recommended buttered toast in place of my usual granulated garlic and mushroom bouillon.

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:screwy: Vegemite can only be an improvement here!

Try making bread or pastry pinwheels/scrolls where you coat one side of the dough strip with Vegemite and then press it into grated cheese before rolling.

When we lived in Boston, I had some Vegemite sent from Australia, only to find that the local supermarket in Porter Square stocked it.

Noting than American "cheese" bears little resemblence to the cheeses in other parts of the world, I found that one of my favourites was bread, butter, vegemite and "cheese".