🍞 The Great Vegemite Challenge

Love it or hate it? Vegemite is one of Australia's most famous — and most divisive — foods. Let's find out what it's really made of.

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🇦🇺 What is Vegemite?

A jar of Vegemite with a spoon scooping out the thick, dark brown paste.

Vegemite /ˈvɛdʒəˌmaɪt/ is one of Australia's most iconic foods. It was invented in 1922 by food scientist Cyril Callister, who found a way to use leftover brewer's yeast extract instead of throwing it away.

Most Australians grow up eating it — usually spread very thinly on buttered toast for breakfast (a thick layer is considered a beginner's mistake!). It's also popular in school lunches, on crackers, or mixed into cheese on toast.

For many non-Australians, the strong, salty taste is a shock the first time they try it. In fact, watching a friend's face after their first taste of Vegemite has almost become a tradition for Australians travelling abroad.

👅 Describe the taste

Look at the picture above. Even if you've never tried Vegemite, imagine the taste based on how it looks and what you've read. Here are some useful adjectives:

salty · bitter · savoury (umami) · tangy · sticky · thick · strong · intense · yeasty · malty · sharp · an acquired taste

Creative writing

Imagine tasting Vegemite for the very first time. Describe the experience in English — use at least four adjectives from the list (or your own).

🍞 How to eat it (properly)

An infographic titled 'How to Eat Vegemite' showing six rules and three slices of toast: Vegemite for beginners, for regular consumers, and for those who want to die.

Read & respond

According to the picture, what are the rules for eating Vegemite "properly"? Name at least two.

Why do you think the third slice is jokingly labelled "for those who want to die"?

🏷️ Match the ingredients

The ingredients list on a jar of Vegemite: yeast extract from yeast grown on barley and wheat, salt, malt extract from barley, flavour enhancer potassium chloride, colour E150c, spice extract containing celery, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid.

Drag each ingredient to what it actually does in Vegemite.

The main ingredient — made from leftover brewer's yeast

The grains the yeast is grown on

Adds a sweet, malty flavour

A flavour enhancer that works a bit like a salt substitute

Gives Vegemite its very dark brown colour

Part of the spice extract — can trigger allergies in some people

B vitamins added to make Vegemite more nutritious

❤️‍🩹 Healthy or unhealthy?

Nutritional information table for Vegemite, per 100g: Energy 798kJ, Protein 25.4g, Fat less than 1g, Carbohydrate less than 1g, Sugars 2.2g, Dietary Fibre 7.8g, Sodium 3450mg, Thiamin 11mg, Riboflavin 8.6mg, Niacin 50mg, Folate 2000 micrograms.

Analyse & discuss

Look at the nutrition table. Is Vegemite healthy or unhealthy? Think about: the sodium (salt) content, the B vitamins, the sugar and fat content. Explain your opinion in English.

📸 Your turn!

Now get creative. Choose one (or both!) of these tasks:

Option A: Breakfast photographer

Take a photo of your own breakfast this week (or draw it), and describe it in English: What's in it? How does it taste? Is it healthy? Bring your photo or drawing to class.

Option B: Invent a new Vegemite combo

Invent your own Vegemite combination — what would you put it with? (For example: Vegemite grilled cheese, Vegemite avocado toast …) Give it a fun name and describe why it would taste amazing — or terrible!

📮 Submit your answers

When you're done, enter your name and class and submit your answers.

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Well done!

Your answers have been saved for your teacher. Don't forget to bring your breakfast photo or drawing to class!

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