Tim Blair

I thought that vegemite was vegitative matter(with horrible things done to it), so by default it was kosher.
Apprently, I was wrong. What is vegimite made of? What animals are distilled for it?

Sorry, but one child has been determined to be allergic to such vegemite. It must go.

Kashruth requires more than just not being from a pig or a prawn - it's pretty complex. And in order to get certified kosjer, you have to meet all of these requirements, plus rabbinic inspections, closed on the Jewish Sabbath, etc.

So you can have an all vegetarian product and still have it not be kosher.

I ate Haggis in Scotland, I've eaten pickled nastiness in Germany, but I could not make myself eat Vegemite.

Wot's vegemite?

Vegemite is what separates us (ie Australians) from the animals (ie the rest of the world).

Vegemite is our birthright. It is our symbol of citizenship. Nobody, but nobody who isn't Australian likes Vegemite. And that makes us special.

It makes us feel better if we are sick. It warms us on rainy winter days. It's inexpensive, it's low in calories, and it fills a space in our gastronomic needs that nothing else* can fill.

All hail Vegemite!

*eg Marmite, which is basically Satan in a jar.

And Dick Smith's ersatz version sucks.

Surely there's some commission or other that can do something about this outrage against my fellow Aussie Jews? This is the worst case of discrimination since I missed out on the Mr Bondi title of 1997.

I'm going to boycott all other Kraft products (except Vegemite, of course, and maybe the cheese singles).

To cut a long story short, it's made out of beer.

To expand on the short story, no its not. Beer is made out of what goes into vegemite.

Little critters feed on mash. The little critters (wee yeasties to distinguish them from wee beasties) piss beer and shit vegemite.

Vegemite is brewery waste. Vegemite is what's left after beer is made.

All I know is one thing. If I meet a man in Brussels, Six foot four and full of muscle, if he speaka my language, he'll smile and hand me a vegemite sandwich.

"Vegemite is brewery waste. Vegemite is what's left after beer is made."

Well no wonder it's an Aussie passion. It would be unsuitable for Passover, by the way, due to containing leaven (ie the little yeasties).

This sounds like a real conundrum for observant Jewish Aussies. If an observant Jew makes it at home himself it ought to be kosher enough, like making bread. I suggest that they take up home brewing, throw out the resulting beer, and make vegemite from the remlets.

Oh, I suppose you could keep the beer and drink it, if you really wanted to.

Nobody, but nobody who isn't Australian likes Vegemite.

Odd. One would think that having been born in Cleveland, Ohio USA to American parents, and having never been more than 20 miles from the United States, would disqualify one from being an Australian.

On the other hand, I also have a map with south at the top, and a cricket bat in storage.

Does this mean I get to vote against Labour? How do I get an absentee ballot?

It should be noted that there are more Muslims than Jews in Australia now. (And indeed was the case in 1996. This is a reality some people haven't realised yet.

I know kosher isn't exactly the same as halal, but they're somewhat similar.

Will we now be getting Koshermite and Meccamite?

Donnah (idiot)

Based on your "logical" statement, we must therefore stop producing.....

peanuts, eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, milk, soya products, shellfish, seafood, and, and, and....

All these products can KILL people who are allergic to them (including MY SON).

IDIOT

(PS - to everyone else - sorry about the rant, but it's personal).

Thank heavan I can get vegemite in Japan, or I'd have to eat natto (fermented beans that look like The Blob) like the locals! They insist I give it a try, but refuse my offered vegimite sandy.........

I once had a few pieces of toast and Vegemite before noticing that the Vegemite was 10 years past its use-by date.

...didn't notice any difference. I don't think Vegemite can go off.

http://www.vegemite.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=ProductionTour.welcome

(urp)

Excuse me. Weak stomach.

Toasted cheese and vegemite sandwiches with lots of butter and more butter spread on top after toasting.

Breakfast of champions.

Nice rant, Dave.
I was referring to honey bees. Those with allergies to them ought not to move in next to a bee farm and then try to run them out of business.

Kiwis say that Marmite is the original - Vegemite being a diluted whimpy version of a good thing.

Warmongering Lunatic, you were obviously an Australian in a previous life, and the ability to appreciate and metabolise Vegemite has difted from one incarnation to the next. It's the only rational explanation.

DaveACT,

You realise Donnah was probably being sarcastic, right?

The issue, apropos comment #1, is that meat products are to be processed on the same line.

Marmite: sweetened. Spew.

Bring back original Vegemite, circa 1980! It's not the same after Kraft got all bolshy and lowered the salt level.

Vegemite - proof that Australians will be the last life forms on earth, should the the nukes fly. It takes a tough breed to eat it, let alone LOVE it.

I am not Australian.

We Americans have been insulted for our passion for peanut butter for many a long moon, but it's become hugely popular in Eastern cooking. Score one for us. But NOBODY but Aussies can stand vegemite. I consider that a sign of dangerous Australian unilateralism, and a provocation to terrorist action.

Dave:

You may not have picked up on it, but Donnah was being sarcastic. Unfortunately, it's an approach taken by people who are serious.

I was a part-time substitute teacher a few years back. In a middle school one student out of about seven hundred was allergic to peanuts. The school removed anything containing peanuts from vending machines and cafeteria menus and barred anything containing peanuts from entering the school. Students were forbidden to bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.

Having spent 5 years in Eastern Iowa, I was naturally exposed to Vegemite. It kind of reminded me of slightly burnt, somewhat salty, runny Velveeta. Not bad as long as there's enough fully Krausined Old Style about.

Vegemite, a bit of worchestershire and cheese, toasted on a thick slice of home-made bread....mmmm

and, while I've got relatives in Australia, I've never been...though I do play cricket....

And Marmite's sweetened? That's the difference? I could never put my finger on it...

Is vegemite like ketchup, produced by more than one company, or does only Kraft make vegemite? Apparently, it's only Kraft, or this wouldn't be an issue.

I'm trying to think of what is to the U.S. what vegemite is to Australia. Peanut butter?? Cheese Whiz?

Being a Brit Im mainly a Marmite consumer, Ive had the Vegemite every now and again and like Jack I cant really tell the difference.

Peanut butter is the Food of the Gods! Vegemite, on the other hand, is... well, I don't know what it is, but I'm afraid of it.

Nothing can take the place of peanut butter. By the time my husband's cousins got to us in Germany while on their European travels, they were feeling the lack of it. They had us purchase them several jars of it from the commissary so they could continue their travels in comfort.
I've never encountered vegemite.

Email me your address, Donnah. Salvation is on its way!

For that matter, ANYONE who'd like to try the magical Australian substance is welcome to email me. Sample packs of Vegemite will be sent to all.

Thanks, Tim. That's awfully nice of you.

Is vegemite like ketchup

I hope not! I might be unknowingly funding John Kerry's wife if that were the case.

http://www.vegemite.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=ProductionTour.welcome

So, I gather from this (probably) simplified description of its manufacture, Vegemite is basically just... yeast?

Mmmmmmmm...Vegemite!

Cheese & Vegemite Mini Quiches
Serves: 12
Preparation: 10-15 mins
Cooking: 15 mins

12 slices bread, crusts removed
butter for spreading
VEGEMITE, for spreading
60g bacon, finely chopped
80g sliced mushrooms
60g grated tasty cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
80ml cream
2 tablespoons chopped chives

SPREAD each slice of bread with butter then Vegemite. Press bread into non-stick muffin pans, Vegemite sides facing up.

COOK bacon and mushrooms in a frying pan for 2 minutes. Combine bacon, mushrooms, cheese, eggs, cream and chives.

SPOON savoury egg mixture into bread cases and bake at 210ºC for 15 minutes or until set. Serve hot or cold.

Hey I'm a yank and I like vegemite! Two of the greatest gifts the Aussie's gave to the world:

1) Fosters Oil Cans (Before the imported crap screwed up the taste)

2) Vegemite and Toast

Are you Aussies sure this isn't just some publicity stunt like the New Coke vs. Classic Coke was?

"Peanut butter is the Food of the Gods!"

Absolutely. As I speak (type) there is a 4 pound jar of peanut butter and a spoon sitting next to the monitor.

"I'm trying to think of what is to the U.S. what vegemite is to Australia. Peanut butter?? Cheese Whiz?"

As an American of Scandanavian extraction, I can only answer this question with one word:

Lutefisk.

My (USN) ship visited Fremantle W.A. circa 1985. Had the beer. Had the Vegemite. Loved them both, not to mention the Greater Perth metro area. Can't get Vegemite in New Mexico, but a close imitation "Marmite" is available in specialty stores.

I can't tell the difference between Marmite, Vegemite and Bovril. It disturbs me, because Bovril is* made from beef. . . .

*or was; over here, at least, they only sell so-called 'chicken Bovril' now. Which should really be, I dunno, Poultril or something.

I'm going to find some vegemite and taste it.

I will report with a pictorial essay. If it turns me into a 6-4 muscular vowel masher with a hat that buttons up on one side, that entertainment!

Bovril? You mean there's a vegemite-like product made from beef? What the hell do they do, ferment hamburgers?

Oi! I know several Czechs who love Vegemite. They beg for supplies as Xmas & birthday presents. And anyone who can't tell the diff between Vegemite & Marmite has dead taste buds.

Marmite's sweetened.

I knew there was a difference, I just didn't know what had been don to create that difference.

And, don't they have Beefymite over there? Never tried it, but the name speaks for itself.

And I'm gonna try those quiches....