Vegemite
Every �true blue� Aussie child is brought up on Vegemite!� Yes, this dark coloured food paste made from yeast extract is smeared on fresh bread, toast, crackers and crumpets as a snack, breakfast, lunch on the run or when there�s basically nothing else left in the house to eat.� It is an acquired taste and repulses those not accustomed to it.� Simply watch overseas visitors face screw up their face when tasting this staple spread found in every �dinky di� Australian home.� In fact, it is considered a national food and cultural icon.
Vegemite has an interesting history. �More than eighty years ago, back in 1922, an Australian leading food technologist was given the challenge of creating a food item from a by-product of the beer-manufacturing process.� This by-product, brewers� yeast, a rich source of vitamins, was developed into a pure vegetable extract spread for use on bread and toast.� It has since found its way into many Australian homes and diets as a pantry staple.
Vegemite has a high nutritional value.� Prior to World War II it was endorsed by the British Medical Association for its medicinal benefits as a nutritionally balanced food for patients.� Soon after, it became very important during World War II.� Firstly, it was supplied to the Armed Forces to be included in army rations.� Secondly, as a result of the heavy demand by the Armed Forces, the supplies to civilians were rationed with the following message: Vegemite fights with the men up north! If you are one of those who don�t need Vegemite medicinally, then thousands of invalids are asking you to deny yourself of it for the time being. �After the war, and the subsequent baby boom, Vegemite was endorsed as an essential source of Vitamin B1, B2 and Niacin for babies and nine out of ten homes had a jar of Vegemite in their pantry.� In fact it is one of the world�s richest known sources of the energy giving Vitamin B group.
Ask any Aussie if they have Vegemite at home and they will probably say yes.� For eighty years this smooth, black spread has been a part of Australian families for generations and a part of Australian History and this will continue on. So come on, do yourself a favour � if you haven�t tried it give it a go.
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