What is Vegetable Extract?

Heather says:

This question is specifically for my UK readers or maybe they have it in AUS or NZ, too. What is vegetable extract?

Is it broth, base, or bouillon? Or is it something completely different?

I found an old recipe from the rationing years and it called for a teaspoon of vegetable extract. A brief search on Google only yielded others asking the same question or what looked like health food additives.

INGREDIENTS

Take 1Ib each of diced potatoes, cauliflower, swedes and carrots;
Three or Four spring onions;
One teaspoonful of vegetable extract and
One teaspoonful of oatmeal.

METHOD

Cook all together for ten minutes with just enough water to cover.
Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Allow to cool; put into a pie dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley and cover with a crust of potatoes or wholemeal pastry.
Bake in a moderate oven until the pastry is nicely brown and serve hot with brown gravy.

via The Carrot Museum

I thought it might make an interesting side dish to riff on, without the pie crust.

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