Annals from a Citrus Grove in the Suburbs: V for

Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand.
To all our troops, thankyou. God be with you and bring you safely back to Australian soil.
To all our fallen, thankyou, you are in our thoughts and prayers today - rest in peace.

- Lest we forget -

Vegemite

Vegemite or Veggie is as Aussie as an Echidna, or a Hills Hoist or an Akubra.

In a nutshell, Vegemite is a black paste made from yeast mixed with salt & celery and onion extracts. The yeast product is the waste produced from beer making.

We drink a lot of beer down here – in 1922 a man named Fred Walker was given the task of developing a spread from the used yeast being dumped by breweries. A similar product had been produced in England but imports had been disrupted by World War 1.

Fred came up with the recipe that would become Vegemite and it was on the market in 1923.

Most of us are brought up on Vegemite and start eating it as soon as we can chew a bit of toast.

A Vegemite sandwich is a staple in a kids lunch box at school especially if that child is a picky eater.

Many a tourist to our fair land has fallen prey to our sense of humour by being tricked into trying a spoonful of Vegemite & whilst I don't agree with the trick I have witnessed some hilarious reactions. In fact Mr Obama actually commented to our Prime Minister recently that he thought Vegemite was foul. Heeee, obviously he was not given the correct advice, I wonder if an Aussie tricked him into trying a tablespoon full.

To say that Vegemite is salty is like saying the Antarctic is chilly. Vegemite is almost as salty as eating salt straight out of the shaker but there is a subtle undertaste that has to be tasted to be appreciated. The problem is that no one bothers to tell new comers that there is a right way to eat it and a very very wrong way to eat it.

Wrong Wrong Wrong

Perfect

To fully appreciate Vegemite you need a nice thick slice of bread. Toast it until it is golden brown and while it is hot spread it with a layer of butter. Not margarine, not butter substitute BUTTER.

As the butter is melting into the toast, spread a very thin layer of Vegemite.

You can add a slice or two of cheese or an egg if you wish but just plain is fine.

If you spread Vegemite like you do peanut butter or jam your taste buds will never trust you again.

So if you meet an Aussie and the conversation turns to Vegemite and they try to get you to taste it, remember this blog and ask for a nice, hot bit of toast and some butter with that.