If there’s one food product guaranteed to provoke strong reactions from people, it’s Marmite.
This quintessentially British product first began manufacture in 1902 in Stoke on Trent. Today, it’s sold all over the world. The brand is owned by Unilever.
There’s a good history on Wikipedia.
Marmite is made from yeast extract and is a dark, almost black, colour. That and the taste is what provokes most strong reactions – which are either love it or hate it.
There’s rarely an in-between view.
I love it. Indeed, I couldn’t live without it! For instance, I couldn’t imagine scrambled eggs on toast without a thin veneer of Marmite on the buttered toast beneath the eggs. Delicious!
Or cheese and Marmite sandwiches. That’s my idea of heavenly lunchtime bliss. Strong Cheddar cheese is especially good as the tangy flavour of the cheese perfectly complements the Marmite taste.
The love it/hate it viewpoint has featured in much of Marmite’s advertising and marketing in recent years. And the official Marmite website is all about love or hate. No traditional brand marketing approach there.
The latest news about Marmite is a special limited edition containing champagne that’s part of a promotional tie to Valentine’s Day.
Not sure about the champagne but I love the label on the jar (image above). Have to get one just for that!
The special edition is now on sale at all the major supermarkets. And I notice that there’s lively action on eBay for this.
Hmm. There’s a Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda within a 5-mile radius of here.
Excuse me, gotta run…
[Later] Found one in Morrisons!
This is blatant link bait if ever I saw it. I hate it. Marmite that is. :-)
See, it does provoke strong reactions :)
I like it myself, but not of of the point of adding champagne when marmite only really exists as a by-product of the brewery industry.
Not sure about the champagne either, Andy. They did one last year that had Guinness in it. I didn’t like the sound of that!
I haven’t opened the champagne Marmite yet. Unadulterated Marmite, that’s the one for me!
Yuck! how could you eat that stuff.
I am seriously considering removing your rss feed from my feed reader after this blatant support for such a disgusting product!
What saddens me about Marmite is that my wife, an American, likes the stuff, and she might infect my 17 month old son with the same taste. :-)
Oh the shame…
Heh! Oh the passion in love or hate :)
I personally will be doing multiple subscriptions to this blog due to your display of fine taste on spreading matters. Marmite is the front line in my house. I have a kiwi wife and they eat a local inferior paste also called Marmite (i can only assume the patent police were asleep in that province last century) which she is infecting our children with. The fight goes on.
Marmite is ok, but Vegemite is far better!
David, at least your wife isn’t into Vegemite as Robin is (and he’s a kiwi), so be thankful for small mercies ;)
I wondered if anyone would mention the Vegemite word. A disgusting product, Robin! Worse than Bovril :)
(Kevlar jacket now on in case any Australians come a-visiting.)
My first taste of Marmite (which still sounds like a small, furry woodland creature)was at your house when Michele and I were there in September. I liked it, but I can’t say it provoked the love-it-or-hate-it reaction it seems to bring out in some people. I must say, though, that I’m surprised to see Lee Hopkins absent from this discussion, given his passionate views of Vegemite vs. Marmite.
Heh! A hedgehog is what springs to my mind!
======Ignorant American Alert====
Ok. So Marmite is a dark, yeast based product.
Vegemite, which I’ve tried and sort of like when I’m in the mood, is a dark, yeast based product.
What is the difference between them? Is Vegemite really Marmite with some fermented vegetables or something?
Both have a different taste, Daniel.
This article has more info if you’re really interested :)
http://www.salagram.net/Marmite-Vegemite.html
From my experience, mosly visitors on the NZ cycle trips I’ve done, the first encounter with Vegemite goes like this;
English : It’s not marmite but I’ll cope
American : What is this, it’s so salty, how on earth can you eat it!
I think Marmite-loving Brits would say: “It’s not Marmite! How will I cope?”
I would ;)
Ever noticed the link between the Lovers and Haters of Marmite and lovers and haters of Open Source, or Apple or Microsoft or even Moo ?
In todays With Onions Jason Nicholls and I went off on a whole idea about Marmite and Social Media if you like I’ll add in a link.
I hadn’t noticed that link, actually. So, yes, do post the link you mention.
There is no doubt that Bovril is and and always has been far superior in having a mature, meaty wholesome flavour and taste compaired to the harsh burnt yeasty taste of marmite
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