Vegemite is Australia’s national spread that some people love but others hate. People use it as a condiment or dip for bread and crackers. It is also a flavoring agent in baked goods like cakes and cookies.
So what does Vegemite taste like? It is an acquired taste that has a salty flavor with a bitter aftertaste,
Vegemite is a dark brown, indigenous Australian food made from leftover brewer’s salt, yeast, B vitamins, malt extract, and vegetable extract.
The major ingredient used is yeast extract. It is made from the leftover brewers’ yeast extract, a byproduct of beer manufacture, and various other vegetables and spice additives.
It’s worth noting that it has no added synthetic flavor; it is free of sugar and fat. It is very good for a vegetarian or a vegan.
What Does Vegemite Taste Like?
Vegemite tastes salty with a bitter aftertaste. Its consistency is similar to peanut butter and can be eaten as a spread on bread.
However, the truth is that it has a distinct flavor, and you cannot describe its taste with just one word. If you are trying to figure out if you would love its taste, you have to try it for you to know.
But don’t think you would love it on your first try because it is an acquired taste.
Various Ways to Describe the Taste
Meaty flavor
Brewers’ yeast, a byproduct of beer making, is rich in glutamates, which gives the Australian staple its signature meaty umami taste.
Flavor enhancers
Glutamates are abundant in the spread. The flavor is also very dependent on how it is consumed.
When eaten, it has a stronger flavor. It’s worth mentioning that it has no artificial flavors and is sugar and fat-free.
Distinct beefy flavor
The taste is sour, bitter, salty, and savory, with a strong umami flavor. It is similar to a beef stock or broth. Also, there are hints of malt in it too. The spread is also rich in glutamates.
Salty flavor
It tastes salty with hints of nutty flavors like caramel and cocoa beans. It also contains high levels of salt, so that it can be addictive.
Yeasty or Beer-like flavor
It has a beer-like flavor because it contains yeast, a byproduct of beer production. It has salt and bitterness, and is meant to be consumed in moderation.
Deep cheesy flavor
It does have a partially cheesy-like taste. However, the taste is more complex. It is like mixing a tasty cheese with a strong beef broth and then reducing the mixture so it is pretty strong.
Vegemite on toast. Credit: canva
What Does Vegemite Smell and Look Like?
It has a unique smell and aroma similar to a well-cooked beef stock. Open the jar and immediately smell the sulfur, meaty chicken broth.
It looks like Nutella, but with the consistency of peanut butter and a dark reddish-brown, almost black color.
Soy Sauce
An Australian musician Tyrone Lindqvist described the taste to FoodBeast: “You know soy sauce that you might have with rice, that adds kind of a salty flavor? Vegemite is just like that, but people tend to overuse it if they’re just trying it for the first time.”
It’s salty and bitter but not meant to be consumed in large quantities. He suggests that the flavor changes depending on the pairing.
The umami tastes best when a thin layer is combined with butter on a slice of bread, topped with some cheese or avocado.
Nutella
Although the spread resembles Nutella, it does not taste like it. Despite its chocolate-like appearance, the flavor isn’t sweet like Nutella.
Peanut butter is a good comparison. Both contain peanuts, and both have a creamy texture. But it doesn’t taste like peanut butter.
Cheese
It has a slightly cheesy flavor but is more complex than plain cheese. It’s like combining a delicious cheese with strong beef stock and then reducing the mixture until it becomes quite strong.
Marmite
It is much stronger than Marmite due to its richer flavor.
On one side, it has a texture similar to peanut butter, whereas Marmite has a thick syrup-like consistency. It is widely believed that the flavor is similar to molasses.
Marmite. Credit: canva
Why Do Aussies Love Vegemite?
Australians who grew up eating it as children are an important part of their daily diet. Australians are brought up on this breakfast spread.
But most tourists trying it for the first time make the mistake of layering the spread on too thick. That’s why they hate it the first time.
Why Do Some People Hate Vegemite?
Many people who try it quickly realize that it is an acquired taste. Americans who usually spread too much peanut butter on their bread tend to spread too much for the first time.
Meanwhile, Australians know they can get a delicious flavor from a thin layer of the savory and salty spread.
Spread butter or margarine on the toast, followed by a small quantity. Taste it and see if you can tolerate it.
It has a pungent bitterness and an umami taste, so it is not recommended to eat plain.
Halal Vegemite. Credit: canva
How to Use
On Bread Toast. You can use it to spread your butter on toast. The salty taste will also endorse the dullness of butter well.
Add a Small Amount of Spread. If you are trying it for the first time, adding it in small amounts is good to enjoy it. Sometimes it doesn’t taste enjoyable, especially if you are not used to it.
Avoid Eating It Plain. It has a strong taste. So, when eaten as a spread, don’t eat it plain. Since the strong taste adds flavor to other meals, use it for seasoning and as a condiment.
Pair with Cheese or Avocado. You can use it with cheese or avocado so that the combination makes the food tastier.
Put it on your sandwiches. You can use added flavor with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese. You could also grill the cheese and add sliced avocado and tomatoes on top of the sandwich.
Add It to Egg Sandwich. You need to take some bread and then spread it on the slice. Top it with cheese and scrambled eggs. Since Vegemite Spread is used for seasoning, it would be an excellent choice for scrambling eggs. This is something you’ll always remember.
Vegemite can be purchased in different places depending on your location. If you reside in Australia, you can find Vegemite at local grocery stores or supermarkets.
However, if you are not in Australia, it may be a bit more difficult to find. Your local grocery store might occasionally stock Vegemite, but it is not guaranteed. In such cases, you may have better luck locating Vegemite at imported or specialty food stores, particularly those that carry other Australian products.
Another reliable option is to explore online retailers. Many Australian specialty retailers offer Vegemite, and you can easily find it on platforms like Amazon. So, while it may be a little more challenging outside of Australia, with a little effort, you can find Vegemite either at local stores, specialty food shops, or online retailers.
