Aussies are disgusted when they find out what Vegemite is made of – and what it was originally called
- Popular spread Vegemite has been around since 1923
- But some Aussies only find out what it’s made of
Thousands of Aussies are just discovering what the iconic national spread Vegemite is made of.
The polarizing spice was invented in Melbourne in 1923 when an Australian food producer requested a product similar to the British Marmite.
As seen in an episode of ABC’s Great Australian stuffVegemite is made from a ‘brewer’s waste’ – a by-product of beer.
In the episode, a brown liquid is poured into a factory tub and the narrator says, “This is the brown sludge at the bottom of your VB factory.”
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The popular spread Vegemite has been around since 1923, but it’s only now that some Aussies are discovering what it’s made of.
According to an episode of ABC’s Great Australian Stuff, Vegemite is made from a “brewer’s waste” – a by-product of beer
Comedian Nazeem Hussain was featured in the episode saying ‘Vegemite is made from leftover beer’.
Another voiceover said, “During World War I, Marmite supplies ran out, so we started looking for something else. Britain started making Marmite, the world’s very first yeast spread, in 1902.
When Aussies couldn’t get enough of it, Fred Walker, a food industry businessman, saw an opportunity.
“He challenged a food scientist named Cyril Callister to come up with an equivalent to Marmite.”
Originally, Mr. Callister called the product “Pure Vegetable Extract,” which admittedly was “not very sexy.”
At the time, there was a ‘fad’ in Australia for public competitions for naming things or designing things – the Australian flag, for example, was designed thanks to one competition.
And so ‘Vegemite’ was chosen for the yeast spread.
The educational episode further explained that Vegemite was originally marketed as “healthy food for babies” that will help children “grow big and strong.”
In the mid-1930s, American company Kraft picked up the product and it boomed through tactical marketing strategies, including the “happy little Vegemite” jingle known to thousands today.
After a small portion of the episode was shared on Facebook, hundreds of Aussies shared their love for Vegemite, and many couldn’t believe they didn’t know about the “interesting” fact.
“Now I know why I like it so much,” one said, another said, “YUM!” Especially now that I know I eat beer.’
“Toast, Vegemite and sliced avocado, best breakfast,” said a third.
“I’m a merry Vegemite kid at heart!” added another.