xkcd

by **Woegjiub** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:30 am UTC

Got a craving for some vegemite yesterday night at 2am, and after finishing off some crackers with it on....
Dude, you can eat vegemite straight from the jar with a spoon!
It's utterly delicious.
Someone suggested peanut butter+vegemite, and that's marvelous as well... I made a vegemite+PB sandwich, spread honey on top of it, and then sprinkled milo on that. It's orgasmic.

I don't know if it's a purely Australian thing, but IMO a cupboard is not complete without some vegemite, it's just as important as bread or milk.

So, what have you done with this, the most wonderful of spreads?

by **poxic** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:52 am UTC

In before "Vegemite will kill your family and erase your hard drive".

I've never met Vegemite, but from the various descriptions I've heard, it sounds a bit like miso paste with extra yeast. Am I close?

by **Woegjiub** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:51 am UTC

poxic wrote:In before "Vegemite will kill your family and erase your hard drive".

I've never met Vegemite, but from the various descriptions I've heard, it sounds a bit like miso paste with extra yeast. Am I close?

I've never had miso paste, but it's basically salty yeast with vitamins, in a jar. Very salty, very awesome.

by **Nebuduck** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:51 am UTC

Vegemite - evil.
Marmite - Mana from heaven.

by **Mr Jack** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:35 am UTC

Woegjiub wrote:Got a craving for some vegemite yesterday night at 2am, and after finishing off some crackers with it on....
Dude, you can eat vegemite straight from the jar with a spoon!
It's utterly delicious.
Someone suggested peanut butter+vegemite, and that's marvelous as well... I made a vegemite+PB sandwich, spread honey on top of it, and then sprinkled milo on that. It's orgasmic.

I don't know if it's a purely Australian thing, but IMO a cupboard is not complete without some vegemite, it's just as important as bread or milk.

So, what have you done with this, the most wonderful of spreads?

There's a million stories about Americans encountering it and thinking it's chocolate.

by **PAstrychef** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:48 am UTC

It's impossible to confuse vegemite and chocolate.
Chocolate is one of the perfect foods. Vegemite is inediblity in a jar.
I know that many europeans think the same of root beer, so I will concede regional variations in the value of edible. I just don't come from one where the edible value of vegemite or marmite is anywhere near one.
More for you!

by **Amarantha** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:50 am UTC

Vegemite is an excellent vitamin hit, and also a fantastic alternative to other spreads, which are mostly sweet, sticky or both. On toast with melted butter it's an incredibly simple comfort food. A spoonful adds umami to stews if you don't have any demi-glace on hand. As a sandwich it's a good go-to for when you haven't had time to make anything more complicated. Yesterday I was running out of time to catch my bus, so I vegemited two slices of bread on my way out the door and ate the sandwich as I walked to the bus stop.

Btw, apart from the crackers, everything the OP did with vegemite is sacrilege

And ya, kiiiinda like miso, but with more yeast and a vast deal more salt.

by **Brooklynxman** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:08 am UTC

PAstrychef wrote:It's impossible to confuse vegemite and chocolate.
Chocolate is one of the perfect foods. Vegemite is inediblity in a jar.
I know that many europeans think the same of root beer, so I will concede regional variations in the value of edible. I just don't come from one where the edible value of vegemite or marmite is anywhere near one.
More for you!

Grrr Europe. Root Beer is......amazing. And Root beer floats.

Now Im not gonna be able to sleep cause Im craving one and dont have the materials. Thanks.

by **Fifi** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:52 am UTC

Vegemite is pretty much my favourite thing ever. Every morning begins with a slice of vegemite toast. And as soon as I get home from school - vegemite toast with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
I've made my friends try it (I'm an Aussie living in Ireland) but no-one else seems to appreciate the pure goodness that is vegemite (which is infinitely better than marmite, by the way. Marmite has a horrible texture and just tastes weird).

by **Izawwlgood** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:28 pm UTC

My sister was eating vegemite once, and my brother walked up (he was maybe 8 at the time) and goes "Ooo Chocolate!". Without taking her eyes from the vegemite can, she tilted her spoon so he could enjoy a heaping glob, and he mouthed the entire thing. The look on his face when he realized, at that very moment, that someone, anyone, anywhere, would lie to him about something as fundamentally pure and delicious as chocolate, was priceless.

Vegemite is kind of icky. But whatever. Spread it all over, boost that sperm count, I dunno.

by **Meowgan** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:39 am UTC

/me welcomes our vegemite overlords.

I love vegemite. Om nom nom. I usually put it on crumpets. Or put it on crackers with butter and make vegemite worms by squeezing the crackers together. I also eat it straight from the jar.

When I was in primary school we used to fight about whether vegemite or peanut butter is better. They might have got physical once.

by **thesilv3r** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:50 am UTC

Vegemite on buttered toast. The simple things are the best.

by **JayDee** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:10 am UTC

Yeah, I occasionally dabble with having other things (like jam) on toast, but I always go back to Vegemite. Thickly and haphazardly spread on lightly toasted bread. Especially after a big night - salt and vitamin B and easy-to-make is nice hung-over.

I've linked this elsewhere, but I love the fact that Vegemite is totally part of Australian cultural DNA. As far back as I remember (which is probably just to watching Saturday Disney as a kid?) liking Vegemite has been one of the number one tests of Australianity.

by **Axman** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:30 am UTC

iSnack 2.0

by **Woegjiub** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:54 am UTC

Apparently kraft are changing the name due to all the hatred it got on both twitter and facebook, here's hoping it's something that makes sense - like cheesymite.

by **lamito** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:02 am UTC

chessybite

Vegemite - evil.
Marmite - Mana from heaven.

how can you love one and hate the other, it is easy to prefer one, butt hey are two similar to hate one and love the other... unless you hate it on principle

by **Amarantha** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:32 am UTC

It all depends what you're used to. Marmite tastes more brown and yeasty and organic, and has a moister texture. Vegemite is drier and tastes black and salty and sharp. Generally you find that people have a strong preference for the one they grew up with, and believe that the other one just tastes wrong. It's like, ya it's similar, but it's close to what you're craving without actually being what you're craving. It's the uncanny valley of yeast spreads.

by **Woegjiub** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:04 am UTC

Amarantha wrote:Marmite tastes more brown

Amarantha wrote: Vegemite ... tastes black

huh?

by **|Erasmus|** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:00 am UTC

JayDee wrote:I've linked this elsewhere, but I love the fact that Vegemite is totally part of Australian cultural DNA. As far back as I remember (which is probably just to watching Saturday Disney as a kid?) liking Vegemite has been one of the number one tests of Australianity.

Yeah... the stuff is awful though. I guess I just don't really belong down here.

by **OtterFox** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:03 pm UTC

I've tasted Vegemite once.

My 4th grade teacher had a mixed class of both 4th and 5th graders, and so when the 5th graders were off doing something 5th-gradey (D.A.R.E.) our teacher would take the 4th graders and teach them about Australia, since she spent some time teaching there. Taught us some basics of Cricket, Waltzin' Matilda, and once brought in Vegemite for us to taste...I found it utterly disgusting...but my tastes have changed, so, who knows? Maybe I should try it again >_>

Although, the question is: where would I find such a thing in America?

by **wst** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:26 pm UTC

The problem with talking to Australians about marmite...

Wikipedia wrote:The distinctive product was originally British, but a version with a noticeably different taste has been manufactured in New Zealand since 1919, and this is the dominant version in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

So y'all wouldn't know what marmite be tasting of, though if the following is true then it's obvious why you don't like your 'marmite'.

Wikipedia wrote:New Zealand Marmite is described as having a "weaker" or "less rancid" flavour than the British version.

Bovril is good as well. It's like marmite on steak, in a jar. Very convenient.

by **Amarantha** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:09 am UTC

Woegjiub wrote:
Amarantha wrote:Marmite tastes more brown

Amarantha wrote: Vegemite ... tastes black

huh?

*shrug* Seemed to make sense at the time. I often describe flavours using colours, especially if I'm comparing two or more different ones. It's not synaesthesia, just a way that I think, I guess. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, though

Oops.

by **Woegjiub** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:34 am UTC

Amarantha wrote:
Woegjiub wrote:
Amarantha wrote:Marmite tastes more brown

Amarantha wrote: Vegemite ... tastes black

huh?
*shrug* Seemed to make sense at the time. I often describe flavours using colours, especially if I'm comparing two or more different ones. It's not synaesthesia, just a way that I think, I guess. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, though Oops.

It comes across to me as intensity when you use those terms, if that's what you meant?

by **OtterFox** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:26 am UTC

Woegjiub wrote:
Amarantha wrote:
Woegjiub wrote:
Amarantha wrote:Marmite tastes more brown

Amarantha wrote: Vegemite ... tastes black

huh?
*shrug* Seemed to make sense at the time. I often describe flavours using colours, especially if I'm comparing two or more different ones. It's not synaesthesia, just a way that I think, I guess. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, though Oops.

It comes across to me as intensity when you use those terms, if that's what you meant?

Where 'black' is darker and heavier, where as 'brown' is a bit lighter, but still has a bit of the heavy...ness? >_>

by **Amarantha** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:57 am UTC

Kinda, but not really. Black is more of a salty, condiment-y, less food-y taste. Pointy and bitey. Brown is more food-y, more organic, warm, round... less 'chemical' perhaps, but still not exactly a fresh-food flavour. Both are heavy and intense, but they just have different flavours. It's like the vegemite was left reducing on the stove for longer. Or something. Maybe it is more intense, I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't be trying to describe it after 5 hours of writing about Denmark :wink:

*packs in the study, goes home (or possibly to a bar)*

by **Pez Dispens3r** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:53 am UTC

For those who want to know the taste, all I can say is take a swig of soy sauce. What you'll experience is not a world away from the taste of vegemite (salty yeastiness).

by **Woegjiub** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:44 pm UTC

Pez Dispens3r wrote:For those who want to know the taste, all I can say is take a swig of soy sauce. What you'll experience is not a world away from the taste of vegemite (salty yeastiness).

Blasphemy, I say!

Although soy sauce is wonderful and improves many dishes (as does vegemite :p ), it is not exactly drinkable.
Whereas one can enjoy vegemite straight from the jar.

by **Pez Dispens3r** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:46 pm UTC

Have you tried soy sauce from the bottle? It ain't so bad.

by **Amarantha** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:41 am UTC

Woegjiub wrote:...one can enjoy vegemite straight from the jar.

This is debatable. I'd eat soy sauce straight before I would vegemite. But I'd rather not do it with either.

by **cleverdan** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:30 am UTC

I would easily say that Promite > Vegemite. But that's just my taste. But in large quantities, both will trigger my gag reflex.

by **red.** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:52 am UTC

When I was little, I used to eat Weet-Bix with margarine and Vegemite. I'm not sure why. I tried it again recently and it tasted okay but the resulting feeling was like spraying inside my mouth with Rexona. Bleurgh.

What are everyone's opinions on Cheesybite?

The first time I heard 'iSnack 2.0' I declared it a non-food and swore never to eat it. But Cheesybite, I can deal with.

I don't mind it, but I find it weirdly processed-cheesy. However, the cheesiness is less prevalent when I have a cold (i.e. now) and thus no sense of smell. I definitely prefer good old Vegemite, or the two mixed together.

Also, Vegemite is one of my favourite foods but I was raised on it and I totally understand how to most people it's utterly repulsive.

by **hermaj** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:39 pm UTC

I'm the only person I know who is a huge fan of all the -mites. We have Vegemite, Marmite and Promite at home and I have whichever one I feel like. (I may or may not be eating Vegemite toast RIGHT NOW :shock:

) I have yet to try Cheesybite, but I heard a rumour they're getting in trouble with the name yet again because of Pizza Hut's cheesy-bites pizzas. Confirm/deny?

Oh, and Vegemite and roast beef sandwiches = AWESOME.

by **Woegjiub** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:08 am UTC

hermaj wrote:I'm the only person I know who is a huge fan of all the -mites. We have Vegemite, Marmite and Promite at home and I have whichever one I feel like. (I may or may not be eating Vegemite toast RIGHT NOW ) I have yet to try Cheesybite, but I heard a rumour they're getting in trouble with the name yet again because of Pizza Hut's cheesy-bites pizzas. Confirm/deny?

Oh, and Vegemite and roast beef sandwiches = AWESOME.

I still don't get why they didn't call it cheesymite.
Sure, people make cheesymite scrolls, but they need delicious vegemite to put in them....

And, it's alright but I preferred vegemite cheese, it was awesome.

by **Amarantha** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:08 am UTC

Only Brumby's makes cheesymite scrolls, because Brumby's has trademarked the name. Hence Kraft not being allowed to use it.

Also, I just remembered an interview I once read, in which Dick Smith explained that his Ozemite couldn't replicate the flavour profile of Vegemite because he couldn't get hold of enough brewer's yeast, Kraft having scored a monopoly which snagged them like 95% of the available supply. So he had to use baker's yeast. Presumably if Kraft is getting all the brewer's yeast, then Marmite and Promite are using baker's yeast also, which might account for some of the difference in flavour. I know Marmite, Promite and Ozemite are/were all different, but I've found them all far more similar to each other than to Vegemite.

by **Woegjiub** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:07 pm UTC

Amarantha wrote:Only Brumby's makes cheesymite scrolls, because Brumby's has trademarked the name. Hence Kraft not being allowed to use it.

Also, I just remembered an interview I once read, in which Dick Smith explained that his Ozemite couldn't replicate the flavour profile of Vegemite because he couldn't get hold of enough brewer's yeast, Kraft having scored a monopoly which snagged them like 95% of the available supply. So he had to use baker's yeast. Presumably if Kraft is getting all the brewer's yeast, then Marmite and Promite are using baker's yeast also, which might account for some of the difference in flavour. I know Marmite, Promite and Ozemite are/were all different, but I've found them all far more similar to each other than to Vegemite.

Baker's Delight make them as well, and they compete with Brumby's....

by **hermaj** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:21 pm UTC

Mmm, but do they call them the same thing? I think what Amarantha is saying is that only Brumby's can make a thing and call it a cheesymite scroll, because they have the rights to the name. What's the Baker's Delight equivalent called?

by **Amarantha** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:29 am UTC

Either that or it's Baker's Delight I was thinking of. That's highly possible.

by **Woegjiub** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:38 pm UTC

hermaj wrote:Mmm, but do they call them the same thing? I think what Amarantha is saying is that only Brumby's can make a thing and call it a cheesymite scroll, because they have the rights to the name. What's the Baker's Delight equivalent called?

They call it a cheesymite scroll, I've never heard of brumby's before now, looks like he got the two mixed up (not hard to do IMO).

But if they've trademarked it, or copyrighted it.... shouldn't kraft do a deal or something? It's the best name.

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