Chile Forum

I am hoping to bring some with us and get more sent over....

hehehe how funny!

I have been here for a week now, and despite my absolute excitement over the abundance of fresh and cheap seafood and fruit and veggies, I am having serious withdrawals for my toast and vegemite in the mornings or a nice big spoonful to munch on mid afternoon

Item 1 on list to be sent over? A huge jar of vegemite !!



(Mind you, eating the seafood here is a pretty good way to suffer ... scallops for brekky today hehehe)

Are there any issues with bringing vegemite in with us?? I know you cannot take it to the states- or atleast they have stopped importing it.

wow, can't believe I never saw this thread before...

There is no vegemite sold in Chile at all. I know in other countries the embassy/consulate will ship it in, but this is not the case in Chile. On the chilean end, there are no issues bringing vegemite in, but you will need to pack it in your checked luggage as in Australia they will randomly decide that it might be a bomb making substance and since you will undoubtedly have more than 100mL or whatever can fit in the small ziplock bag, you won't be able to bring it, so un-australian

I wouldn't send it in your sea freight, just because as tough as vegemite is, 2 months or more in a sea container in the sun cannot be good for it.

As for getting it sent in, be sure the person sending it ticks "gift" on the parcel, and get them to include the receipt just in case the Chilean Customs pretend not to understand it is a gift. However, as with the sea freight get vegemite sent should only be done by air mail, in which case it is going to be some expensive vegemite. If you are desperate and do go this route, the best way to go is with the tubes (I know, it's not quite the same) or the bucket, if you think that you will get through that amount of vegemite in the time you have until it expires (I am not sure, but I imagine the shelf life is something like 20 years...) as the glass jars add a lot to the weight and of course if they break then there goes your vegemite. If you do get called down to customs to collect it or pay taxes, drop me a PM, been there done that, not as hard as I first thought it might be, despite the fact that my Chilean relocation consultant refused to help me because it would be "near on impossible".

Other tips I have found useful: Make friends with at least one other Aussie family that arrived here before you, because they will a) likely go back to australia for holidays before you and bring you some back, and b) perhaps leave before you at which point if they are good friends you will inherit their pantry stock. Any colleague, visiting Australian business associate, relative, friend or best friend's dog's cousin's owner's auntie who comes in from Australia is here on in obliges to bring you vegemite, make it clear to all...

good luck, hope by now you have found some vegemite somehow...

Steph
did you declare checked baggage vegemite when you arrived? I thought food was a no-no?

Hi Zizzles, I am fairly sure that you don't have to declare vegemite - you have to declare meat products, vegetable products, unprocessed dairy products. however we generally declare if we have any food at all and then just let the sort it out at the customs bag check. We carry the explanation of what vegemite is (see spanish version of wikipedia, and print the page on vegemite), as its propoganda ("world's richest source of Vitamin B") has customs wondering if it is some sort of wonder vitamin supplement. That said, I think the customs people who check your baggage are way less concerned than the ones who check the incoming mail. My inlaws came in this year with freddo frogs, tim tams, twisties, vegemite, and barbecue shapes. They declared that they had food (I think they ticked the box for dairy products because of the chocolate) and were basically waved away. I would rather declare just in case, than have to have an argument with someone at the airport after an 18hr flight.

Well I am arriving there soon and will now be bringing with me vegemite, bbq shapes, freddos and twisties. Mum will send more when I need it no doubt.
So who needs some more vegemite???? I can bring some more if you want.

HI, I'm new to the group and i know this was ages ago, but i just want to add that there are no problems bringing in vegemite - my mum brought over a 1.5 litre catering tub when she came to visit. Also, it is not banned in the US - that was just an internet rumour. Anyway, I have a large supply of vegemite here, so if anyone is desperate, you are welcome to come round for a sanger

Question from someone who has never heard the product mentioned.
Is it pronounced vegemight or vegemeaty?
Also, what is Spotted Dick? Heinz makes it. From the picture on the can, it looks like bread pudding.
Thank you.

It's pronounced Veg-e-might and I just opened my last bottle! I like the idea of the catering sized tub, as our place is like Central station and all the visiting Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans hoover through the stuff faster than we can get our hands on more. I still have a bottle of Marmite and Bovril, but Vegemite seems to be the most popular choice.

A bigger conundrum for us is to get Weatbix, any local sources? We crave it!

not sure about weetbix- I thought I saw it the other day just trying to remember where.
Thanks to a lovely ladies parents who came to visit I now have 4 tubes of vegemite. So if anyone would like some please tell me because I know it is one thing that is hard not to want especially for those who have grown up on it.


Spotted dick is not an aussie thing but from what I know it is like a steamed pudding with sultanas in it ( i think)

Hey Aussiemum, count me in. I live in Vina and would be happy to buy some. I just finished my last jar and I'm hanging out.

Frank