I don't get it, I just don't get it. How could you NOT love Vegemite. I do know however that people outside of Australia have a hard time understanding how we love it.
I remember when I tried it on my USA friends they gagged. I am not sure if it was because the colour of the Vegemite tricked people into thinking it was chocolate and maybe when they ate it, all they got was salty goodness. They were muttering something about tasting like blood and rust.....
Or they couldn't understand how you would have something savoury on your breakfast toast.
Its so funny how the rest of the world cant stand it but we eat it by the bucket loads.
I remember when I was younger my Mum would give me the jar when it was just about empty and there was a little bit in it and I would eat it with a spoon. MMMMMMMMM
If you go to any of the coffee carts here in Sydney or any cafe for breakfast you can bet if you went to the kitchen you would find tubs of this delicious breakfast staple.
And if my description didn't just entice you to go order some then maybe some history will.
Vegemite had humble beginnings. In 1922 it was invented by Cyril Callister. He was a young chemist and he developed a spread from brewers yeast (see, I told you it was delicious). The result was a nutritious spread with an appealing taste that is also one of the world's richest known sources of Vitamin B.
It then went public in 1923 hitting the grocery store shelves.
The name "Vegemite" came about because of a contest. Apparently this name was drawn from a pile and there it stuck. Not sure why but there you go.
Vegemite improves the flavour of soups, stews and gravies. But its appealing flavour and nutritional qualities did not immediately catch on with Australians, and initial sales were slow.
In 1935 Vegemite sales received a boost when Vegemite redemption coupons were included in packs of cheddar cheese (and I am assuming this is how we got our idea to put cheese and vegemite on sandwiches). Hordes of bargain-loving Australians redeemed their coupons and sales of Vegemite leapt, along with its reputation as a tasty, nutritious new spread.
1954 was a memorable year for Vegemite. For the first time, the "Happy Little Vegemites" jingle rang out from speakers across the country, and an advertising classic was born.
And in 2003 Vegemite turned 80.
Vegemite lovers come in all forms:
The Edger - Always very particular about their Vegemite, they like it spread right to the crust.
The Streaker - Doesn’t like having much on. Vegemite, that is. Gives the toast just a couple of light streaks of Vegemite.
The Slapper - Loose with the way they apply their Vegemite, it’s slapped on.
The Tiger Toaster - Not quite on the endangered list, but still not a lot of them about. They love strips of bubbling, grilled cheese layered over their Vegemite.
The Nudist - The purist of all Vegemite eaters. No butter. No marg. Just a piece of toast and the world’s mightiest spread. What more do you need?
There are more out there but you get the drift. And what am I ???? A streaker. In more ways than one :p
And to end this lovely Ode to Vegemite here is that famous "Happy Little Vegemites" jingle.
We're happy little Vegemites
As bright as bright can be
We all enjoy our Vegemite For breakfast, lunch and tea
Our mummies say we're growing stronger
Every single week,
Because we love our Vegemite
We all adore our Vegemite
It puts a rose in every cheek.

Are you still awake? Maybe next time I will do my little "Ode" to Tim Tams. I know how much you all love them!!!!
(all facts taken from www.vegemite.com.au - I couldn't have thought up those gems! And that photo - just off the web, dont know that kid but he sure is cute!)