| Product: |
Marmite |
| Date: |
15/05/08 (122 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Yumtastic, Cheap, lasts a long time, Vegetarian friendly, Low calorie
Disadvantages: Has a diverse reaction on the flavour
Introduction:
Marmite, the word that can send a pulse of pleasure through someone and a wave of loathing through another. Personally, I love the stuff, but opinions on this wonderful substance can be quite contrary to mine. It's hard to describe exactly what it is, it isn't a preserve, or a sauce, it's a condiment that you would have on toast, it's spreadable in that sense. Although I have known some people to drink it (by adding a blob into a mug an adding hot water), I think they have been getting confused with Bovril, you know, I love marmite, but I will happily admit that the thought of drinking it sends a weird shiver of disgust up my spine.
So what exactly is in it?:
Well, simply put: Yeast extract. The clever people at Unilever have created a product that is more or less entirely made out yeast. A lot of people have alikened the flavour to Guinness, or a very strong ale, and they wouldn't be miles away with the comparison, considering they're all made with yeast*. Obviously other ingredients go in to make this gloopy stuff of blackness: Vegetable extract, salt, spice extracts (not baby, sporty or scary you'd be pleased to hear...ok that was a bad joke, sorry) as well as Niacin and Thiamin, whatever the blinky blonky they are!
Appearance, smell and taste:
As you put a knife in to get some Marmite out, it immediately reminds me of treacle, but runnier, yet maintaining a certain sticky viscosity. It's very dark brown, so much so that it looks black. On first whiff, it smells very strong and has a salty-ness. There is almost a very strong gravyesque, beefy smell there too, whether or not I'm going crazy - I don't know. There is definitely the undeniable aroma (if you can call it that) of yeast, that gives a vague reminiscence of very strong ale. Once in your mouth, your tongue is over come by the saltiness and strength of this wonderful concoction. There is also a deep beefy aftertaste, but many people find the strength and flavour far too strong to get a 'mmmmm' out of their mouths, but rather a 'urggghhhh'. It's 'MMMMM' all the way for me. If you've ever tasted a Twiglet, then they're pretty much the same flavour.
Packaging:
It is sold in jars of varying size. I have a 250g jar always in my cupboard, but they also come in much smaller versions. The jar is made of glass, small, round and black, with a flat front and back. It is famous for it's bright yellow lids and bright yellow label, with 'Marmite' in big, bold, white letters, on a red strip, with a pot illustrated underneath, ooo lovely!
Nutrition and Benefits:
Ok, so apart from tasting delicious (or vile, if you are that way inclined) Marmite is a great source of B vitamins and is also 100% vegetarian. So the beef reference must be something in my head, fear not, no beef products in it what so ever ☺ One 4g serving only has 10 calories and 1.5g of protein and nothing else (pretty much)...so if you're dieting...jobs a good'un, bring on the Marmite! (Although, obviously, it's not a good idea to go over board with the yeastness, so best to eat it moderately.)
Price and Availability:
Marmite costs anywhere between 1GBP and 3GBP depending on the size you buy and you should be able to get it from all supermarkets. Something I discovered in the last 3 months is that its very, very, VERY hard to find in America. I ended up paying about 5GBP for a relatively small jar from a specialist Supermarket that had a British section...marvelous...yes it was expensive, but it was so good have my morning 'marmite on toast' fix in the land of no-marmite.
Other varieties:
Well, there is 'Vegemite' which is virtually the same thing (you've probably heard the name bandied about on the ozzy soaps, well that's where I first heard of it). I'll be very surprised if there is much difference in taste, but if there is, it might only be subconscious, who knows? 'Vegemite' can be brought from most supermarkets now, although I understand it originated from Australia...hence the ozzy soap reference. Fairly recently, Marmite released special editions, containing other ingredients, such as champagne or Guiness...I never got round to trying those, gutted!
Conclusion:
I know it sounds sad, but all in all, I can't imagine my life without Marmite...I LOVE IT! On toast, in sandwiches, in rolls, on toast with beans on top...it's very, very nice on toast with scrambled egg on top. In fact with anything on toast. But probably best not to have it as a drink, unless you're REALLY obsessed...I wouldn't go that far.
For more info go: www.marmite.com
Trivia: Marmite is a French term for a large, covered earthenware or metal cooking pot, hence the image on the label.
*Also yeast extract IS a by-product of beer brewing...I knew it!
Marmite is my mate, always has been, always will be.
Thanks for reading :)
© MarcoG 2008
Summary: My mate Marmite...always in my cupboard, always on my toast!
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