Vegemite Blend 17 a new ‘premium’ recipe of Aussie favourite

A BOLD new Vegemite — labelled Vegemite Blend 17 — has hit supermarket shelves, but the question is: what is it, and can it beat the original? We put it to the test. WATCH THE VIDEO

Hamish and Lila give the Blend 17 Vegemite the thumbs up. Picture: Tony Gough

FOR almost a hundred years it’s been putting a rose in every cheek, with generations of Aussies brought up on the same taste of Vegemite on toast.

But fans are in for a treat, with a bold new recipe hitting the supermarket shelves.

The question is: can it beat the original?

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Hamish and Lila Simpson taste test the new Vegemite. Picture: Tony Gough

The regular sort.

Fancy: The Blend 17 with gold label.

Hamish and Lila sampling the new version with Herald Sun food writer Dan Stock. Picture: Tony Gough

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Vegemite Blend 17 is a richer, syrup-like spread that’s a touch sweeter with a more bracing finish than the original recipe.

Those who like the consistency of Marmite will give this new version the thumbs up, though it remains unmistakably Vegemite.

A 1930 Vegemite jar.

Apparently, when Cyril Callister invented Vegemite in 1923, he tried and tested different “blends” before settling on his recipe, and this new version is a tribute to his original tinkering.

Vegemite was born in Melbourne and this year returned to Australian hands after being sold to dairy company Bega.

Made in Port Melbourne, the limited edition premium 150g jar retails for $6.99, about double the price of the standard variety of the spread. There will be 450,000 jars made.

And — unlike the short-lived cream cheese/Vegemite experiment iSnack 2.0 — is making happy little Vegemites of the first fans to taste.