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Vegemite - it's one of those foods that you either love or hate - it seems there's no middle-ground. There would be few Australians who don't love it with a passion. But generally-speaking you really do need to grow up on it to love it. If you taste it for the first time when you're an adult, you'll be very likely to think it's the most disgusting thing you've ever tasted. However, I think there's even hope for people in other countries to develop a taste for it if they use it sparingly to start with. If you spread this thick salty black paste too generously on a piece of bread or a cracker, you're going to be shocked by its strong taste. However, if you spread it thinly - maybe even starting off by spreading it sparingly on some cheese in a sandwich, then you may find you'd like to have it again - and in time you may even be as crazy about it as the average Aussie is.

Aussie children have grown up on Vegemite for more than 80 years - and most of them just love it. Even our dogs are crazy about it! One of them will turn up her nose if we offer her a piece of toast or bread with just butter on it. But if we add some Vegemite she grabs it eagerly.

Vegemite even has its own very famous jingle that was used first on radio and then in the early days of Australian television. Performed by a group of kids, this little song that most Aussies are very familiar with says: "We're happy little vegemites, as bright as bright can be. We all enjoy our Vegemite for breakfast, lunch and tea. Our mummies say we're growing stronger every single week. Because we love our Vegemite, we all adore our Vegemite, it puts a rose in every cheek". My little boy, who's not quite six, is doing his part to keep a beloved Aussie childhood tradition alive. He sings the song beautifully!

Vegemite's recipe is a closely-guarded secret owned by the multi-national Kraft foods. However, it was originally developed by food technologist, Dr Cyril P Callister, an employee of the Australian company, Fred Walker & Co in 1922. It was invented in response to a shortage of the popular British product, Marmite and other imported yeast spreads after World War 1. There have been a number of companies that have tried to copy it - but none have been successful in producing something that Aussies will accept in place of the real thing. Apparently one of the main ingredients is Brewer's Yeast, a by-product of beer manufacture - and I believe I heard that Vegemite pretty much has the monopoly on its supply in our

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