A Favourite Thing: Marmite (Marmite)

Member Name: LauraElliott

Product:	Marmite
Date:	14/07/02 (1009 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Delicious taste, Quite healthy for you, Can be spread on a variety of different breads, as well as being used in a hot drink

Disadvantages: Very addictive

My favourite food in the world has to be marmite. It is so delicious, that once you have placed it on the tip of your tongue, it makes your tongue tingle and go numb before giving off the most glorious taste. Some people love it, some people hate it. I'm one of the one's who adores it!!

Not only has it got a wonderful taste, but the nutritional values are superb too. This means that you can eat as much as you want of the stuff and still be healthy - what a great way to live!

Marmite was first introduced to the shops in 1902, one hundred years ago. This was in the same year as the Coronation of Edward VII. It started being made in a factory in a small place called Burton-on-Trent (centre of the British brewing industry, where all of the yeast was readily available). Marmite is a registered trademark of CPC International Inc. It is made by different companies in different parts of the world, and often to a different recipe.
By 1907, the popularity of marmite had increased, meaning that a new factory needed to be opened, and this time they opened it in London's Camberwell Green. By the outbreak of the First World War, marmite was already very established. By the 1930's and 1940's people became more aware of how important certain vitamins are in our diet and therefore began to buy more marmite. Also in 1930, marmite cubes were launched. By the Second World War, people were using the marmite sparingly because of al of the rationing procedures taking place. Then in the 1950's (after 50 years of first being introduced), more advertising took place and the containers changed shape. In the 1980's the campaign 'My Mate Marmite' was released, meaning that more people were set to buy their product.

The market of marmite is very very popular. Recent surveys show that marmite is one of the British favourite savoury spreads, dominating the meat and vegetable market. The increasing need to take a packed lunch eithe
r to school or work, meant that marmite was being used more, especially in sandwiches. UK sales of meat and vegetable extract pastes amount to 34,466,000 million pounds on a moving annual total basis. This market is dominated by marmite yeast extract (a vegetable extract paste), which took an estimated 23,353,000 million pound share by value on a moving annual total basis, with Bovril, a meat extract paste taking 8,424,000 pounds. I found this information out from the official marmite website (http://www.worldhealthcare.net/marmite/marmite.ht ml).

The most common use is as a spread on toast or in sandwiches. Note: it is generally spread very thinly because of its strong flavour - don't use it like jam. It has drug-like qualities; the more you eat, the thicker you need to spread it to get the same mouth-burning effect. Some people have even called it addictive.
It is also delicious spread on hot buttered crumpets or ryvita crackers. A teaspoon of Marmite can also be added to soups, casseroles, and almost any savoury food for a wonderful, rich flavouring.

The reason why I eat a lot of marmite is because it is 100% vegetarian, which is absolutely essential for me. Unlike many vegetarian meals, marmite provides an excellent source of B 12. This vitamin helps to prevent anaemia. It also contains a good source of Riboflavin and Niacin as well as an excellent source of Folic Acid (brilliant for pregnant women).

Marmite is also brilliant for people trying to diet and slim down. It contains virtually no fat or sugar. A single 4g serving amounts to only 8 kcal/35 kJ typical values. Spread on toast with butter this comes to 145 kcal (704 kJ), although skipping the butter cuts the calorie count down to 72 kcal (350 kJ).

Marmite does have a distinctively salty taste, but if spread on toast then there is more salt in the actual bread or butter, than in the marmite itself.

One thing which has always interested me is to know whe
ther marmite is kosher or not, because I follow a strict kosher diet and have always assumed that marmite fits into this. I recently found out that it might not actually be kosher, but it is up to the own individual to decide on whether or not they want to eat it and the answer to the question of whether or not Marmite spread is Kosher depends on the degree of orthodoxy and adherence to the strict dietary laws governing Kosher lifestyle adopted by the individual. The reason why it might not be kosher has something to do with the way in which they heat the substance up in the first place to make it into a paste, but marmite is fully approved by the vegetarian society.

Another thing, which I have always wanted to know, is where the name 'Marmite' was derived from. Then I found out that a 'marmite' is the name of a French stockpot or cooking pot?like the one pictured on the front of the jar and shaped somewhat like the jar itself. The name of the French pot is pronounced, "mar-MEET." The product name may have been derived from a famous French soup, petite marmite.
The shelf life of marmite is approximately eighteen months although I am sure that it is bets to but it more often for a fresh and scrumptious taste.

You can buy marmite in almost every place you can think of. Superstores, supermarkets, little corner shops, mini-marts, garages, loads of places!
http://www.britsabroad.co.uk is a good website that you can even order it from.

If you love marmite, then you'll love vegemite (my new personal favourite).

I usually buy my marmite in the small 2.5-inch high jars, although you can now buy them in bigger sizes. You know that it is marmite by the distinctive yellow lid.

Jill Murphy asked me to write about one of my favourite things to help her celebrate her fourth anniversary of cancer-free living and to remind ourselves of all of the nice things in the world. It takes more muscles
to make a frown than to smile you know. If you'd like to join in, whether you've only just joined dooyoo, or you've been here ages, you're more than welcome. Just write about one of YOUR favourite things, make your title "A Favourite Thing: [your choice]" and include this paragraph at the foot of your opinion. And post before Friday, 9th August.

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