9 Nov
2001
9 Nov
'01
10:07 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Kennedy" <chris(a)mainecoon.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 3:29 AM
Subject: RE: Nutella
Chad Fernandez wrote:
> What is vegemite? I have never heard of it.
You don't know any Australians do you? :^)
The food of the gods or one of the foulest tasting
substances
on the planet, depending on who you ask. It's also, in effect,
a wonderful example of "waste stream utilization".
Interestng description.
Vegemite is a dark brown pasty substance with a
modestly stiff
consistency. Looks a lot like shoe polish. It's concentrated
yeast extract; the ingredients list read "Yeast extract, salt,
mineral salt, malt extract, natural colour, vegetable extract,
thiamine, riboflavin, niacin".
Favoured kids breakfast (and school lunch/recess.....) spread in Australia.
Now owned by Kraft, a US company.
Favoured by parents too as it contains very little sugar and is actually
very good for growing kids.
Kids grow up with it and usually carry the 'taste' for it into adulthood.
Most Yanks consider it child abuse to force this on children, however the
kids LIKE it
and we think the same about (Peanut Butter and Jelly- or in English, Peanut
Paste and Jam) Erk.
I like vegemite (having been raised on it). I also like Peanut paste, I like
various jams too, but peanut and
jam together is a needle pinner on the yuckometer.
The most common way to eat this stuff is to spread a
thin layer
on buttered toast, but I've developed a sufficient immunity
as to slather the stuff on.
The flavour is very strong, most people that try it the first time put too
much on and get put off permanently,
it's an acquired taste, like chilli I guess.
Kids don't go thru this, some parents put it on kids dummies when they are
younger. By the time they are 2 or 3 they have it on toast at least daily.
It's also used in cooking, although
I've yet to try any such dish and somehow the thought of
Vegemite soup ranks right up there with a five-course meal of uni.
Not unlike Bovril. (British beef based drink made from a dark looking
paste)
Oddly enough it can be rather pleasant, especially in a gun pit at 3am on a
freezing, raining August morning when you are on guard duty and knee deep in
water, sipping it from a kidney cup. Because it's hot, smells good and you
ran out of coffee and sugar 3 hours ago.
cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au