LOL it's interesting reading up about Vegemite. So I attempted
to do another search on Bovril. Not so interesting this time!
(perhaps it's cos I prefer vegemite so much more! 
)
Bovril's v. nice with porridge, though.
Bovril, formerly a beef extract, now is the trademarked name of a
thick, salty yeast extract, sold in a distinctive, bulbous
jar.
A spoonful of the semi-liquid paste in hot water makes a savoury
drink, but few like it because of its raucous flavour. It can also
be used as a flavouring for soups, stews or porridge, or spread on
bread, especially toast.
The name, like many late 19th and early 20th century tradenames,
comes (partially) from Latin, bos meaning "ox." The vril component
of the name comes from Bulwer-Lytton's once-popular 19th century
"lost race" novel, The Coming Race, in which a subterranean
humanoid race have mental control over, and devastating powers
from, an energy fluid named "Vril."
In November 2004 the manufacturers, Unilever, announced that the
composition of Bovril was being changed from beef to a yeast
extract, both in the hope of allaying fears of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE), and to make the product suitable for
vegetarians and vegans. According to Unilever, "in blind taste
tests 10% didn't notice any difference in taste, 40% preferred the
original and 50% preferred the new product."
It is served at the Groucho Club, and is associated with football
culture; commonly being drunk on the terraces from thermos flasks
in winter.
A potential serving suggestion (as seen at football matches) is to
shake white pepper and maybe a little cayenne into it before
drinking.
Info taken from: Wikipedia, the
free encyclopaedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovril
