Marmite

Marmite(/ˈmɑːrmaɪt/MAR-myte) is a Britishsavouryfood spreadbased onyeast extract, invented by the German scientistJustus von Liebig. It is made fromby-productsofbeer brewing(lees) and is produced by the British companyUnilever. Marmite is avegansourceofB vitamins, including supplementalvitamin B12. A traditional method of use is to spread it very thinly on buttered toast.
Marmite is a sticky, dark brownpastewith a distinctive, salty, powerful flavour and heady aroma. This distinctive taste is represented in the marketing slogan: "Love it or hate it." Such is its prominence inBritish popular culturethat Marmite is often used as a metaphor for something that is anacquired tasteor polarises opinion.Marmite is commonly used as a flavouring, as it is particularly rich inumamidue to its very high levels ofglutamate(1960 mg/100 g).
The image on the jar shows amarmite(French:[maʁmit]), a French term for a large, covered earthenware or metal cooking pot. Marmite was originally supplied inearthenwarepots but since the 1920s has been sold in glass jars. Marmite's distinctive bulbous jars are supplied to Unilever by the German glass manufacturerGerresheimer.
Similar products include the AustralianVegemite(whose name is derived from that of Marmite), the SwissCenovis, the BrazilianCenovit, the long-extinct Argentinian Condibé, the FrenchViandox[fr], and the GermanVitam-R.Marmite in New Zealandhas been manufactured since 1919 under licence, but with a different recipe; it is the only one sold asMarmiteinAustralasiaand thePacific Islands, whereas elsewhere the British version predominates.
The product that was to become Marmite was invented during the late 19th century when the German scientistJustus von Liebigdiscovered that brewer's yeast could be concentrated, bottled and eaten.In 1902, the Marmite Food Extract Company was formed inBurton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England with Marmite as its main product and Burton as the site of the first factory.The by-product yeast needed for the paste was supplied byBass Brewery. By 1907, the product had become successful enough to warrant construction of a second factory atCamberwell Greenin London.
By 1912, the discovery ofvitaminswas a boost for Marmite, as the spread is a rich source of thevitamin B complex;
with thevitamin B1deficiencyberiberibeing common duringWorld War I, the spread became more popular.British troops during World War I were issued Marmite as part of theirrations.
During the 1930s, Marmite was used by the English scientistLucy Willsto successfully treat a form ofanaemiain mill workers in Bombay. She later identifiedfolic acidas the active ingredient.Marmite was used to treat malnutrition bySuriya-Malworkers during the 1934–35malariaepidemic inSri Lanka.Housewives were encouraged to spread Marmite thinly and to "use it sparingly just now" because of limited rations of the product.
In 1990, Marmite Limited, which had become a subsidiary ofBovrilLimited, was bought byCPC International Inc, which changed its name toBest Foods Incin 1998. Best Foods Inc subsequently merged with Unilever in 2000, and Marmite is now a trademark owned byUnilever.
There are a number of similar yeast products available in other countries; these products are not directly connected to the original Marmite recipe and brand. The Australian productVegemitewas developed in early 1920s byCyril CallisterforFred Walker and Co.due to shortages of Marmite exports to Australia as a result of the First World War.It is now distributed in many countries, andAussieMiteis sold in Australia. Other products include OzeMite, which is made byDick Smith Foods; Cenovit, a Brazilian spread;Vitam-R, a German spread;Cenovis, a Swiss spread (sold internationally under the brand Sonaris); and Vegex, anautolyzedyeast product available in the United States since 1913.In the United Kingdom, own-branded yeast extract, very similar to Marmite, is sold bySainsbury's,TescoandAldi.
Marmite has traditionally been eaten as asavouryspread on bread,toast, savoury biscuits orcrackers, and other similar baked products. Owing to its concentrated taste, it is often spread very thinly in combination with butter or margarine.It can be made into a savoury hot drink by adding one teaspoon to a mug of hot water, much likeOxoorBovril. It is also commonly used to enrichcasserolesandstews.
Marmite is often paired with cheese—for example, in acheese sandwichor a cheese-flavoured biscuit such asMini Cheddars. In the UK,Starbucksoffers a cheese and Marmitepanini. There are Marmite-flavoured varieties ofWalkers Crisps, and of some brands of rice cakes and biscuits.
Marmite has also been used as an ingredient in cocktails, including the Marmite Cocktail and the Marmite Gold Rush.
Celebrity chefshave created signature Marmite-flavoured recipes:Nigella Lawsonhas one for Marmite spaghetti, andHeston Blumenthalhas one for Marmiteconsommé.
In 2020, Marmite launched a campaign on Instagram—"The Great Marmite Experiment"—-encouraging people to share their Marmite-flavoured recipes. The many entries in response included roast potatoes, beef Wellington and cookies.
In Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, Marmite is enjoyed stirred into congee (rice porridge), and in an intensely savory Malaysian dish (local Chinese dish) called Marmite Chicken, consisting of fried pieces of chicken tossed in a Marmite sauce.
While the process is secret, the general method for making yeast extract on a commercial scale is to add salt to a suspension of yeast, making the solutionhypertonic, which results in the cells shrivelling; this triggersautolysis, during which the yeast self-destructs. The dying yeast cells are then heated to complete their breakdown, and since yeast cells have thick cell walls which would detract from the smoothness of the end product, the husks are sieved out. As with other yeast extracts, Marmite contains freeglutamic acid, the monosodium salt of which beingmonosodium glutamate.
Currently, the main ingredients of Marmite are glutamic acid-rich yeast extract, with lesser quantities ofsalt, vegetable extract, spice extracts and celery extracts, although the precise composition is atrade secret. Vitamins added forfood fortificationinclude riboflavin, folic acid, andVitamin B12.Vitamin B12is not naturally found in yeast extract, but is very important for vegans who are at risk of deficiency.
Marmite is rich in B vitamins includingthiamin(B1),riboflavin(B2),niacin(B3), andfolic acid(B9). Vitamin B12is only available through artificial enrichment; riboflavin and folic acid are added on top of the naturally-occurring amount. The sodium content of the spread is high and has caused concern, although it is the amount per serving rather than the percentage in bulk Marmite that is relevant. The main ingredient of Marmite is yeast extract, which contains a high concentration of glutamic acid. Marmite is not gluten-free, as it is made with wheat, and although it is thoroughly washed, it may contain small quantities of gluten.(Sodium amount is noted astable salt-equivalent in UK nutritional labels. 6.1 g of salt corresponds to 2.4 g of sodium.)
Marmite iscontraindicatedif a person takes amonoamine oxidase inhibitorantidepressant, such asphenelzine(Nardil) ortranylcypromine(Parnate), as yeast extracts interact adversely with these types of medications due to theirtyraminecontent.
Marmite should be stored in the dark and kept cool, but should not be refrigerated. The "best before" date is given as guidance for the loss of vitamins rather thansafety.
Marmite's publicity campaigns initially emphasised the spread's healthy nature, extolling it as "The growing up spread you never grow out of". The first major Marmite advertising campaign began during the 1930s, with characters whose faces incorporated the word "good". Soon afterwards, the increasing awareness of vitamins was used in Marmite advertising, with slogans proclaiming that "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 1980s, the spread was advertised with the slogan "My mate, Marmite", chanted in television commercials by an army platoon. The spread had been a standard vitamin supplement for British-based GermanPOWsduring the Second World War. For many years television advertisements for Marmite featured the song "Low Rider" by the bandWarwith the lyrics changed to the phrase "My Mate, Marmite".
By the 1990s Marmite's distinctive and powerful flavour had earned it as many detractors as it had fans, and it was known for producing a polarised "love/hate" reaction amongst consumers. Marmite began a "Love it or Hate it" campaign in October 1996, and this resulted in the inventing of the phrase "Marmite effect" or "Marmite reaction" for anything which provoked controversy.On 22 April 2010, Unilever threatened legal action against theBritish National Partyfor using a jar of Marmite and the "love it or hate it" slogan in aparty political broadcast.
Because of thelocal product namedMarmite, European Marmite is sold by the name "Our Mate" in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Marmite uses the name "NZ-Mite" elsewhere.
InDenmark, food safety legislation dictates that foodstuffs that contain added vitamins can only be sold by retailers which have been licensed by the Veterinary and Food Administration.In May 2011, the company that imports the product to Denmark revealed that it was not licensed and had therefore stopped selling the product: this resulted in widespread but inaccurate reports by the British media that Marmite had been banned by the Danish authorities.The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration stated in 2015 that Marmite had not been banned in the country, but that fortified foods need to be tested for safety and approved before they can be marketed in the country.The issue was resolved in 2016, after the completion of a 2014 supplier-requested test.
On 24 January 2014, theCanadian Food Inspection Agencywas noted, in aCanadian Broadcasting Corporationstory, as preparing to stop the sale of Marmite, as well as Vegemite andOvaltine, in Canada because they were enriched with vitamins and minerals which were not listed by Canadian food regulations. The agency said the products were not a health hazard.The CFIA later specified that these specific items had been seized because they were not the versions that are formulated for sale in Canada and which satisfy all Canadian food regulations. Canadian versions of Marmite and the other products would still be permitted to be sold in Canada.
Marmite is manufactured by licence in South Africa byPioneer Foodsin its traditional form.
South Africa also produces a bottled, long-life Marmite-flavoured cheese spread. It is light in texture and contains a hint of Marmite.
In 2002, a 100th anniversary jar was released.
In February 2007, Marmite produced a limited editionGuinnessMarmite of 300,000 jars of 250 g of their yeast extract with 30% Guinness yeast, giving it a noticeable hint of "Guinness" flavour. In January 2008 Champagne Marmite was released forValentine's Day,with a limited-edition production of 600,000 units initially released exclusively toSelfridgesof London. The product had 0.3% champagne added to the recipe, and a modified heart-shaped label with "I love you" in place of the logo.
In 2009, a limited editionMarston's PedigreeMarmite was initiated to celebrate the2009 Ashes Cricket test series.
In March 2010, a "super-strength" version of Marmite was released, called Marmite XO (XO standing for "extra old"). Marmite XO is matured for 28 days, four times longer than usual. The original Marmite XO's cap was black, and has a black and gold label.In July 2019, Marmite XO returned due to popular demand. The 2019 version has an off-white cap as opposed to the original black.
In April 2012, a special-edition jar in commemoration of theDiamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth IIwas released. With the product renamed "Ma'amite", the redesigned label featured a colour scheme based upon theUnion Jack; the marmite and spoon logo replaced by a gold crown, and with a red rather than yellow cap.The front label also declares "Made with 100% British Yeast". Coinciding with the 110th anniversary of the brand, production was limited to 300,000 jars.For Christmas 2012 a gold limited edition was begun, containing edible gold-coloured flecks.
Marmite chocolate is also available.
In 2015, Marmite Summer of Love Special Edition featured aflower power-themed label. This special edition's blend had a lighter taste made using 100% lager yeast.
On 25 March 2019, MarmitePeanut Butterwas introduced, which (as the title implied) combined the taste of Marmite with that of crunchy peanut butter.
On 2 May 2022, MarmiteTrufflewas launched and sold exclusively inSainsburys, along with Marmite 'Dynamite', a chilli-flavoured Marmite spread. The MarmiteTrufflewas marketed with a variation of the 'Love it Or Hate It' slogan designed to make it sound more sophisticated: "One either loves it or considers it utterly vulgar".