# Vegemite **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833 "2009-02-14T16:37:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/1 "2009-02-14T16:37:16Z")
Mundane and pointless, but it’s about food; so… [Amateur Vegemite ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdKC4PB4mQ). Very stupid, but strangely amusing. [Anime Vegemite ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ssbv8XAUA) made by a fan of anime and concentrated yeast extract. [Marmite viral ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoRcU0Ul7tU). (You can see it coming.) [American girls try Vegemite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2Gzp8XgFQ). With expected results. [How to eat vegeeeemite for Americans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXLIiYbGy3A). He uses less than half what I like. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/2 "2009-02-14T20:39:32Z")
I thought Vegemite was illegal here in the Land of the Free. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/3 "2009-02-14T20:46:22Z")
[Nope](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite#United_States_ban_rumour). 🙂 > [@](#): > > **United States ban rumour** > > In October 2006, the Melbourne newspaper, the Herald Sun incorrectly reported that Vegemite had been banned in the United States, and that the United States Customs Service had gone so far as to search Australians entering the country for Vegemite. The story appears to have originated from an anecdote from a traveller who claimed to have been searched and a spokesperson for Kraft who made a misinformed comment to reporters. The story led to some anti-American comments in blogs and newspapers. The Herald Sun blamed the US President for the ban, and encouraged readers to post comments on its website and send emails to the White House. > > The US Food and Drug Administration later stated that although it is technically illegal in the US to add folate to food products other than grains, there were no plans to investigate whether Vegemite contains folate, to subject it to an import ban, or withdraw it from US supermarket shelves. The United States Customs and Border Protection also tried to dispel the rumour, stating on its website that “there is no known prohibition on the importation of Vegemite” and “there is no official policy within CBP targeting Vegemite for interception”.[5] The story of the “ban” later took on the status of urban legend.[6] While Vegemite has never been popular in the U.S., **it can still be purchased at supermarkets that stock imported food items.** [7] ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/4 "2009-02-14T21:27:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > I thought Vegemite was illegal here in the Land of the Free. Nope. You can get it. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/5 "2009-02-14T21:31:17Z")
They mistook banning for “why would anyone want that anyway.” Seriously if you want to eat something Australian try Darren Hayes ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/6 "2009-02-14T22:09:15Z")
I forget their username, but wasn’t there a US SDMB poster who spoke about their five pound pail of Vegemite? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/7 "2009-02-14T22:19:24Z")
I have yet to try Vegemite, but I love its English cousin Marmite. I know each has its proponents, but what’s the difference in taste between the two? I assume they’re similar foodstuffs. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/8 "2009-02-15T00:27:35Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I forget their username, but wasn’t there a US SDMB poster who spoke about their five pound pail of Vegemite? I think that was **Qadgop the Mercotan**. I have a five-pound (2.5 kg) pail too. Its contents keeps disappearing though. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/9 "2009-02-15T00:35:33Z")
I’ve never tasted it. My folks visited Australia and tried it. Once. Dad raised us never to dis the food a host serves you, but he said he was hard pressed not to spit it out after being given a taste on a cracker. Now, our tastes differ quite a bit, and I like strong flavors. I’ve tasted the _beef_ paste used as a commercial stock and soup enhancer, and it’s…interesting. From what I’ve heard Vegemite is not all that different, although not meat based. It’s supposed to be really salty, from what I hear. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/10 "2009-02-15T00:38:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I have yet to try Vegemite, but I love its English cousin Marmite. I know each has its proponents, but what’s the difference in taste between the two? I assume they’re similar foodstuffs. Australian Vegemite is a _yeast_ extract. New Zealand Marmite is also a _yeast_ extract. However, UK Marmite is a _beef_ extract. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/11 "2009-02-15T00:57:09Z")
Advice for Americans travelling in Australia: 1. People will tell you you need to try Vegemite. They will tell you you need to lay it on thick. These people are laughing at your expense, a favourite Australian past time. Use you eyes, use your nose - that stuff is strong. 2. People will tell you how they eat their Vegemite. Some will say with cheese. Some will say with banana. Some will say with honey. These people are _not_ joking - Vegemite goes with everything, but novices should stick wih Vegemite + butter + toast. 3. Watch out for drop bears. Seriously, those things are scary. Think koala’s bad-arsed cousin, who likes to drop on you from above. All Aussies recognise the smell - their one warning to you - so if everyone suddenly jumps to the side, do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/12 "2009-02-15T01:09:22Z")
> [@AllWalker](#): > > Some will say with cheese. Yep. Breakfast this morning was a toasted English muffin with margarine, Vegemite (yes, thicker than in the last video) and [Tillamook cheddar](http://www.tillamookcheese.com/OurProducts/Cheese/MediumCheddar10lbDeliStyleLoaf.aspx) toasted un the toaster oven until bubbly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/13 "2009-02-15T01:10:46Z")
> [@AllWalker](#): > > Advice for Americans travelling in Australia: > > 1. Watch out for drop bears. Seriously, those things are scary. Think koala’s bad-arsed cousin, who likes to drop on you from above. All Aussies recognise the smell - their one warning to you - so if everyone suddenly jumps to the side, do the same. Yeah, right!😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/14 "2009-02-15T01:13:09Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Yeah, right!😛 Tell that to Rincewind! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/15 "2009-02-15T01:15:32Z")
His pointy hat helped! Well, at first anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/16 "2009-02-15T01:25:58Z")
Hmmm… my 2.5 kilo vegemite bucket is about 2/3 empty now. I should order another one. **Johnny** , Tillamook cheddar is okay with vegemite, but I prefer it with 6 year old Gibbsville cheddar. Fortunately, I bought up a bunch of the 3 year old stuff, and am faithfully ageing it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/17 "2009-02-15T01:31:24Z")
**Qadgop** : It seems I rarely have sharp cheese around. Medium-sharp is more versatile for me. Other cheeses commonly found in the fridge are Roquefort or blue or gorgonzola, parmesan, American (gotta have American for grilled cheese sandwiches), Havarti, and/or triple-cream brie. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/18 "2009-02-15T01:35:55Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Australian Vegemite is a _yeast_ extract. New Zealand Marmite is also a _yeast_ extract. However, UK Marmite is a _beef_ extract. You sure? The Marmite I have is yeast extract. You thinking of Bovril by chance? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/19 "2009-02-15T01:37:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You sure? The Marmite I have is yeast extract. You thinking of Bovril by chance? I think he must be. My UK Marmite clearly says yeast extract on it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833/20 "2009-02-15T01:37:29Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You sure? The Marmite I have is yeast extract. You thinking of Bovril by chance? I should say, I’ve also had in the UK, and I swear it was yeast, not beef. [Wikipedia agrees.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite) > [@](#): > > The Marmite Food Extract Company was formed in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, in 1902, with Marmite as its main product, and Burton as the site of the first factory. The by-product yeast needed for the paste came from the biggest brewer at the time, Bass Brewery. By 1907, the product had become successful enough to warrant construction of a second factory at Camberwell Green in London.[3] > > Initially, Marmite was popular with vegetarians as a meat-free alternative to beef extract products such as Bovril, which were popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. > > Today, the main ingredients of Marmite manufactured in the UK are glutamic acid-rich yeast extract … edit: Wow, you’re fast, **Qadgop**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite/485833.md?page=2)