Vegeta is a Croatian brand of savoury seasonings of dehydrated vegetables, spices, and MSG, produced by Croatian food company Podravka. It is considered a staple of Eastern European cuisine.[1][2]
The product was originally developed at Podravka's labs in Koprivnica, then part of Yugoslavia, in 1958. Zlata Bartl, a Bosnian Croat chemical technician who created a popular line of dehydrated soup packets, led the team that developed Vegeta.[3] It was first sold in 1959 under the name "Vegeta 40", and first exported in 1967 to Hungary and the Soviet Union.[4] Vegeta has been produced by Podravka in Koprivnica since its introduction, and is also manufactured in Poland, Austria, Hungary,[5] and Tanzania.[6]
Vegeta was a commercial success for Podravka and led to an economic boom in Koprivnica. Bartl, who became known as "Auntie Vegeta" ,[3] was made an honorary citizen of the city before her death in 2008.[7] Nielsen named Vegeta the best-selling universal food seasoning in Europe in 2021,[8] and the products are sold in 40 countries worldwide.[4]
There is also a "no MSG added" version for those avoiding monosodium glutamate.[9]
Ingredients
The ingredients of Vegeta include (according to the 2008 product packaging):
- salt max. 56%
- dehydrated vegetables 15.5% (carrot, parsnip, onions, celery, parsley leaves)
- flavour enhancers (MSG max. 15%, disodium inosinate)
- sugar
- spices
- cornstarch
- riboflavin (for yellow coloring)
External links
References
- Sam Smart. My Family Can't Cook Without Vegeta Bon Appétit, 25 August 2023, retrieved 25 September 2023^
- Michelle Baricevic. This Is the ONE Seasoning I Put on Everything Food Network, 1 August 2021, retrieved 25 September 2023^
- Nikola Đorđević. Zlata Bartl, the woman behind the best-loved spice in the Western Balkans