1. What is Marmite?
Marmite is dark brown-colored savory spread made from the yeast that is a by-product of the brewing industry. It has a very strong, slightly salty flavor. It is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it type of food.
It usually comes in small (2-5 inches high) bulb-shaped glass jars with a distinctive yellow lid. You can also find individual portion sized Marmite in hotels and cafes and for the really adventurist, you can find large plastic tubs for the catering industry.
Children in Britain are generally fed it from the time they are weaned, and most never grow out of it. It has a high B-vitamin content, as well as riboflavin and niacin—and as such is very healthy. (The vitamin-B complex helps prevent anemia.)
Marmite may be stored at room temperature, even after the jar has been opened. Large jars will last months—even years—without any spoilage. Old marmite can turn hard and lose its gooey spreadability, the catering and individual portions suffer from this more that the Marmite found in glass jars.
2. What do I do with it?
The most common use is as a spread on toast or in sandwiches. Note: it is generally spread very thinly because of its strong flavor—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 a delicious spread on hot buttered crumpets or ryvita crackers. A pregnant fan has reported a love for Marmite and bananas.
Phil Johnson's favorite way to eat it is thinly-spread on rye toast with slices of sharp cheddar cheese. Very satisfying.
A lot of Brits have it on buttered toast. Do take care not to get butter or bread crumbs in the Marmite jar. It makes an unappetizing mess for the next person.
There is no feeling like the smugness you feel when you manage to scrape just enough Marmite from the jar for another piece of toast. Top tip (from James Kew): pour boiling water into a near-empty jar and drink the jar clean.
A teaspoon of Marmite can also be added to soups, casseroles, and almost any savory food for a wonderful, rich flavoring. Marmite mixed into a chili recipe or (my favorite) add Marmite to gravy and it will add a more "meaty" flavour. Remember, Marmite IS Vegetarian.
In England, pretzel-like morsels and other boxed fast-food snacks are available with Marmite flavoring. Fans of Mr. Bean will remember an episode where he made hors d'oeuvres for a party by spreading Marmite on twigs cut from a tree outside his kitchen window.
Walkers (known as Lays in the USA) make Marmite flavoured crisps (chips in USA ;-).
In the UK, you can also buy crunchy wholemeal biscuits flavoured with Marmite. They are made by Fudges bakery of Dorset and can now be bought online at Provender Delicatessen.
In some neighborhoods it is (apparently!) common for nursing mothers to dab a little on their nipples before feeding their infants.
There are reports that some balding men have tried smearing Marmite on their heads to promote hair growth. No assessment of whether it works, however.
3. What are its ingredients?
Marmite is made from (greater quantity first):
- Yeast Extract
- Salt
- Vegetable Extract
- Vitamin: Niacin
- Spices
- Vitamins: B1, B2, Folic Acid, B12
Marmite is also made under license throughout the world. In New Zealand, the ingredients are :
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Salt
- Wheatgerm Extract
- Mineral Salt (508)
- Color (Caramel)
- Herbs
- Spices
- Vitamins: Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin
4. Who makes it?
Marmite is a owned by Unilever. It is made by different companies in different parts of the world, and often to a different recipe.
It is produced in the UK by Unilever Bestfoods UK, and this is the original that you should try and seek out.
In New Zealand it is made by the Sanitarium Health Food Company (a Seventh-Day Adventist outfit). It is sold in plastic jars with a white lid, and has a different set of ingredients (see above).
Apart from the addition of Sugar and Caramel, the differences in ingredients are probably just down to the different labeling requirements of the two countries, and are basically the same. The addition of sugar is what gives NZ Marmite its "weaker" (some would say "less rancid") flavor.
5. How is it made?
It is a natural by-product from brewer's yeast. The by-products of fermentation—yeast, barm, or leaven—had long since been known about, but it was not until Louis Pasteur's time that the secrets of living yeast were unlocked. A German chemist named Liebig discovered that the waste of yeast used in brewing beer could be self-digested and made into a concentrate, resulting in a protein-rich paste (some would say "sludge") with a more or less meaty flavor. (So Marmite is actually a Continental, not a British, invention! But the Brits were the first to make it commercially viable.)
Some of the yeast extract used in British Marmite comes from Bass's brewery in Burton-on-Trent, and the rest is from various other breweries in the area. (The breweries pay Marmite to remove the yeast from their factories.) The main Marmite factory is about two miles away from the Bass brewery. Burton-on-Trent has been the home of Marmite since the patent was first acquired in 1902.
A chemist speculates that Marmite is made by adding salt to the waste-product produced by the yeast in the brewing process, thus rupturing the yeast cells by osmotic pressure—and then concentrating the resulting sludge.
6. Is it Vegetarian?
Marmite is approved by the Vegetarian Society. During the brewing process, some brewers add isinglass (extracted from the swim bladder of some poor Sturgeon) to help clarify their beer. However, the yeast extract is removed before the finings are added, so yes it is vegetarian.
Other (cheaper) finings are available to brewers, and if the beer is brewed correctly, no clarification agents are needed.
7. Is it Natural?
Wholly natural. Brewer's yeast may be the best source of the vitamin-B complex, so Marmite is rich with natural vitamin-B, as well as riboflavin and niacin.
8. Is it Kosher?
From the Accomodata website.
Marmite yeast extract spread has been listed in the Really Jewish Guide for some time as suitable for a Kosher diet, but with the status of 'not manufactured under Rabbinical supervision'. This listing resulted from Bestfoods UK Ltd supplying details of the manufacturing process and the ingredients used to the London Beth Din.
Marmite spread is made on a dedicated plant from ingredients which would be acceptable for a Kosher diet, is of totally vegetarian origin and is approved by the Vegetarian Society.
The plant has had a number of Rabbinical visits over the years in relation to the possibility of producing a fully supervised product. This has never progressed, largely because of a sticking point relating to the heating pipework which circulates around the factory.
This pipework supplies indirect heating to the cooking vessels for both Marmite spread and also for Bovril drinks but the water circulating through the pipes does not come into contact with either product. It's a fully sealed system, and indeed has to be, for a variety of reasons not related to Kosher status.
We have not made any alterations to the recipe for Marmite spread or the nature of the manufacturing process which might affect its Kosher status. What seems to have changed is the interpretation of the rules, resulting from an informal re-assessment by the London Beth Din of the way in which Marmite spread has always been made.
In essence, 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.
9. Where can I buy it outside Britain?
In the US, Burton-on-Trent Marmite is available from some specialist supermarkets, along with other British delicacies like HP Sauce. Try Indian stores (honest, they get a lot of product form the UK) and in New England try Shaws/Star Market in their international isle.
Jars of Marmite that aren't made in Burton-on-Trent are more widely available, but you should be able to find imported British jars if you look hard enough. The country of origin should be printed on the label.
In our opinion—and we have tried Marmite from about seven different nations—nothing beats authentic British Marmite (though Singapore Marmite comes close, and Aussie Vegemite has its own special appeal, though as I mentioned on ABC radio, Vegemite really is the Pepsi of the yeast extract world ;-).
10. Where does the name "Marmite" come from?
A marmite is a French stock pot 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.
10. What advertising campaigns have there been?
The memorable "My Mate—Marmite" adverts consist of an army regiment chanting a marching song consisting of the lyrics:
My Mate,
Whose Mate?
My Mate—Marmite.
[Were there any other lyrics? Probably not.]
They all then went back to the barracks to feast on their mate.
A long-time advertising slogan used to promote Marmite is "The growing-up spread you never grow out of". This is more than a slogan, as most of the adult fans can attest to.
There was also a campaign featuring Jerry Hall, which featured her going on and on about all these wonderful cities, and how she took her jar of Marmite with her all the time. Then she did a Charity Comedy thing (Comic Relief?) where someone asked her how many jars of Marmite she'd eaten. "Oh you don't *eat* it, you spread it" she said. The campaign was swiftly ended...
For the 100th anniversary of Marmite in 2002, thirty-three London taxis were painted to feature the slogan, "100 years of HATE" on one side and "100 years of LOVE" on the other.
In 2003, Marmite launched a controversial ad campaign featuring a lifeguard whose snack of marmite and cheese is interrupted by the call of duty. He saves a another man's life with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When the drowning man recovers consciousness, he grabs the lifeguard's head and begins kissing him passionately, stirred by desire for the taste of Marmite on the lifeguard's lips.
For an almost complete history of Marmite advertising, we go to Unilever Bestfood Ltd where the tell us :
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The first major Marmite advertising campaign began in the 1930s. Central to this promotion was the use of characters whose faces incorporated the word 'good'. The theme was used on posters, shop display cards, brochures, recipe books and paper bags. Soon afterwards, the rising awareness of vitamins was used in Marmite advertising. Adverts talked of 'A small quantity added to the daily diet will ensure you and your family are taking sufficient vitamin B to keep nerves, brain, and digestion in proper working order'. During the Second world War, housewives were encouraged to spread Marmite thinly and to 'use it sparingly just now'. By the 1950s, Marmite claimed it had been handed down from generation to generation. Promotions were based on the benefits for children. 1969 - A Marmite TV advertisement featured a screen full off Marmite jars which disappeared one by one to reveal Marmite spread on freshly baked bread. August 1969 - 'The Marmite Guide to Better Cooking' was available free with Marmite. 1971 - Marmite advertising featured the Marmite XI, 11 children who all ate Marmite in different ways to highlight the versatility of the product. 1973 - Marmite was advertised as the 'Growing Up Spread'. In 1987 the well-known "MY MATE MARMITE" advertising campaign was launched. September 1991 - The 'Early Words' advert featured 'Marmite' as a baby's first words. At this time the brand produced a 'My Mate Marmite' T-Shirts and teddy bears. 1995 - Marmite was so popular in Guyana, South America, that the brand sponsored a football team there with a Marmite coloured strip. In October 1996 the Marmite love it/hate it campaign began. The campaign explored the relationship consumers had with the spread. 1998 - A survey revealed the 35 percent of people loved Marmite, and 39 percent hated Marmite.
Marmite branded buses appeared in major cities with the slogans 'Honk if you eat Marmite' and 'You'll Honk if you eat Marmite' on each side of the bus. 14 February 2000 a 60 foot projection of 'love is...hate is... ' Marmite Adverts was projected onto a Chelsea gasometer by Victoria station, London. May 2000 - The 'Apartment' advert featured a attractive girl who managed to disgust her would-be suitor by taking a bite of a Marmite covered bagel before kissing him. 2002 -Marmite celebrated its 100th birthday. February 2002 - the 'love it/hate it' theme continued with a television advert featuring Zippy, a character from children's TV programme Rainbow, for Marmite's 100th birthday campaign. Zippy, who is notoriously greedy and talkative, is rendered speechless when he bites into a Marmite soldier and closes his mouth rather than taste any more. Two other adverts featured in the campaign in the same year.
One featured members of an Everest expedition who are confined to their tent. Two of them resort to wearing gas masks when their companion tucks into Marmite on toast. The other portrayed an early 20th century freak show where a crowd are horrified to see the Marmite man eat spoonfuls straight from the jar. Retail stockist could also get a Marmite Zippy bean toy. Also for Marmite's 100th birthday London taxis were being used to advertise Marmite. Thirty-three taxis were adorned with Marmite branding to spread the product around London, both being 'icons of British life'. The brand also launched a series of limited edition labels featuring designs from 1902, 1940, and 1970. May 2002: Marmite was giving away T-shirts designed by Vivienne Westwood as part of an on-pack promotion to celebrate its 100th anniversary. In 2003 the Love it/hate theme continued. The TV commercial featured a lifeguard who had been eating Cheese and Marmite sandwiches, who rescues a drowning man with the Marmite kiss of life. The rescued man is so grateful for the taste of Marmite he kisses the lifeguard. June 2003 - Xtreme Sandwiching campaign was launched. It invited consumers to send in photo of themselves eating Marmite sandwiches in unusual places. The competition built on the fact that 14 percent of people take Marmite on holiday with them.
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12. What are Vegemite, Promite, Bovril and Yeast Extract?
Answer: They are not Marmite in any way, shape or form.
Vegemite, is an Australian product, manufactured by Kraft Foods Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is generally described by Marmite fans as a weaker version spread than British-produced Marmite. Vegemite fans have claimed that it is stronger than some non British-produced Marmite, but that doesn't say much for that "Marmite".
Its ingredients are:
- Yeast Extract
- Salt
- Caramel
- Malt Extract
- Natural Flavor
Promite is a vegetable extract spread, and is made by Master Foods of Australia.
They say that; "PROMITE Spread is a vegetable and yeast extract which is a delicious spread on toast or bread. PROMITE Spread can also be used in soups, casseroles or gravy for added flavour. Simply add to hot water for a delicious, nutritious hot drink. It has a smooth texture with a unique taste which all the family will love. The taste is slightly sweeter than other yeast spreads."
Its ingredients are:
- Vegetable Protein Extract
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Caramel
- Thickener (wheat starch)
- Salt
- Spices
- Added Vitamins
- Water Added
Bovril used to be extract of cow ;-), but has been re-formulated to make it a vegetarian product. Its main use is as a flavoring for soups, gravy and as a drink when you put a teaspoon of the stuff in a mug of boiling water. Very warming on a cold winter night.
It, like Marmite, is also produced by Unilever Bestfoods UK.
In Britain, most major supermarket chains sell an own-brand "Yeast Extract", which is the most similar (ingredients-wise) non-Marmite spread you can buy. It is generally a lot cheaper than the real thing, but not for the purists.
13. Marmite merchandising
Let it not be said that the Marmite brand doesn't have severe marketing power.
You can buy all sorts of products that bear the Marmite logo.
For instance, you can get Marmite biscuits, Marmite cycling shirts, Marmite toy trucks and of course Marmite cook books.
Acknowledgements
The Marmite FAQ is sourced from the website of Phil Johnson . The original material for this document was compiled by Dave Chapman from long threads on Usenet during November 1994, and contains nearly everything you ever wanted to know about Marmite.
Buy The Marmite Cookbook
Buy The Marmite Toy Truck