Marmite on hot buttered toast ...
Marmite sandwiches ...
Marmite flavoured crisps (potato chips) ...
Marmite flavoured cashew nuts ...
Mmmm!!!!!
Does that make you think "yum"? Or "yuck"? Or "huh????"
Marmite is a peculiarly British delicacy, which even here is definitely in the "love it or hate it" category - so much so that there have been adverts based on the "love it or hate it" theme and the official Marmite website has different entry portals for lovers and haters. In our family Helen and I are the lovers and Tevye, Marie and Rose the haters. In my experience Americans tend to be baffled by marmite (basing this on expat homeschooling friends!) as it doesn't come with instructions and they don't know what to do with it. Marmite is a very salty, yeast extract based ... can't think of the right word to describe it ... goo? The consistency is a little similar to chocolate spread, but trying to use it like chocolate spread would be a disaster as it is very strong tasting. The key to marmite is that a very little goes a long way. Marmite on buttered toast is particularly good as the marmite kind of melts into the butter. Marmite is even good for you (if you ignore the high salt content!) as it contains lots of B vitamins. According to Wikipedia marmite was used in the 1930s in experiments which identified folic acid for the first time. Last but not least, the jar shape and labelling is an instantly recognisable iconic design to anyone living in England.
So ... Marmite. Do you love it or hate it?
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7 comments:
Love it in relatively small doses!
Can you get it in Switzerland, is it one of those things you have to buy on trips back to the UK?
Never heard of it, though it sounds a lot like Vegemite, which I tried once at an Australia Day party. I liked that-I am a fan of most things salty, so I might like Marmite as well.
Nigella tells you to beat it into the softened butter until the mixture is lighter (won't go fluffy) and then try it on sandwiches or toast. Oooh you've given me an idea for a Sunday story thank you :)
We've got it wt the monastery I am afilliated with -- though I've never tried it -- as a couple of the nuns are fond of it.
I am unacquainted with it, other than by name. What would you compare the taste to?
Um ... nothing??? Really. Maybe Vegemite, which is an Australian yeast extract, but as I've never tried it I can't say how similar they are!
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