Vegemite

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vegemite [ ˈvɛdʒɪˌmaɪt ] is concentrated yeast extract that contains many B vitamins (with the exception of vitamin B12 ) . It is dark brown, moderately to easily spreadable and tastes salty, malty and slightly bitter. It will be manufactured in Port Melbourne , Australia until 2016 by Mondelēz International ; In January 2017, the brand and the factory were sold to the Australian dairy company Bega Cheese . Vegemite-coated crackers and sandwiches are particularly popular in Australia .

Similar foods are available in Great Britain and New Zealand ( Marmite ), the USA (Vegex), Switzerland ( Cenovis ) and Germany ( Vitam-R ).

Evolution of the Vegemite glass at the National Museum of Australia.
ingredients
in 100 g in 5 g ( daily requirement )
Calorific value 811 kJ (194 kcal) 41 kJ (10 kcal)
Proteins 25.6 g 1.3 g
carbohydrates 19.5 g 1 g
of which sugar 1.7 g Trace proportions
fat Trace proportions Trace proportions
of which saturated Trace proportions Trace proportions
Niacin vitamin B 3 50 mg 2500 µg (25%)
Thiamine Vitamin B 1 11 mg 550 µg (50%)
Riboflavin Vitamin B 2 8.6 mg 430 µg (25%)
Folic acid vitamin B 9 2000 µg 100 µg (50%)
sodium 3380 mg 169 mg

Importance in culture and language

Cultural symbol of Australia

Vegemite on toast

In Australia, Vegemite is the epitome of typical Australian nutrition and, because of its unusual taste, it is known as "the taste of Australia" . The Prime Minister's official website lists four Australian cultural icons : the Sydney Opera House , the famous Uluṟu (Ayers Rock), the typical Akubra hat and Vegemite. Vegemite's high salt content (around 8%) led to fears that the Australian government might impose special taxes on the product or even prohibit its sale as part of a healthier diet. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard , however, stated that she is an avid Vegemite eater herself and that there is no way she will give up her morning ritual of Vegemite to Toast. Vegemite is "part of being Australian, part of our history, part of our future" . It is impossible that Vegemite will be banned ( "there is no way in the world that Vegemite would be banned" ).

The Australian rock band Men at Work immortalized Vegemite in their classic Down Under with the line He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich . The question Do you speak my language? of a fictional Australian traveler in Brussels answered without a word. In the original version of John Williamson's successful country song True Blue , Williamson asks what “True Blue” (typically Australian) is with the rhyme : Is it standing by your mate / When he's in a fight? / Or just Vegemite?

Since 2001 the play The Vegemite Tales has been performed regularly in various theaters in London . The play tells the stories of several young Australians and a crazy Italian who live in a shared apartment in London .

In 2013, the Australian blues rock guitarist Rob Tognoni, who lives in Aachen , dedicated a track to Vegemite on his album "Casino Placebo".

In the album "Oddments" the Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard also dedicated a title to the yeast extract with "Vegemite" (Track 3).

Australians abroad

Australians living or traveling overseas are known to stock up on Vegemite frequently as it is difficult to obtain outside of Australia.

During World War II, Vegemite was part of the rations of Australian soldiers. Civilians were called upon to limit their consumption if it was not “medically necessary”.

The announcement by the Chinese government that it would ban the import of Vegemite and other nutritional products by Australian athletes for the Olympic Games in Beijing caused outrage in Australia . The nutritionist for the Australian Olympic team said that Australian products are vital for the athletes.

Another incident occurred in September 2011 when US border officials tried to confiscate a jar of Vegemite that Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd brought to the United States. Only after the latter had contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was allowed to import the glass.

language

Based on a television advertisement from the 1950s, the term a happy little vegemite became a slang expression in Australia for a happy person. To drill for Vegemite is used as a disrespectful term for homosexuality and anal intercourse.

Web links

Commons : Vegemite  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Vegemite - B Vitamins for Vitality. Retrieved August 10, 2015 .
  2. Bega Cheese to Acquire Vegemite and Other Iconic Brands . Mondelēz International ; Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  3. Australian Icons ( Memento of the original from October 19, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.dfat.gov.au
  4. ^ Opposition unhappy little Vegemites over 'tax'. The Age, January 9, 2009
  5. Love, or loathe it. Australia says: Save our Vegemite . The Independent, February 1, 2009
  6. The Vegemite Tales website ( memento of the original from January 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.thevegemitetales.com
  7. Rob Tognoni - Music, MP3s ( Memento of the original from October 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.robtog.com
  8. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard on Bandcamp
  9. Food fetish from Australia . New York Times, February 16, 1987
  10. ^ History of Vegemite
  11. ^ Beijing bans our Vegemite . Daily Telegraph, April 30, 2008
  12. Wrong spread - US border guards stop Australian minister . Spiegel Online , September 19, 2011
  13. a b The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English