h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Will someone please find a way to get that last bit of Marmite from the neck (or is it shoulders?) of the jar.

a finger, preferably your own, wiped around should solve the problem. You have to REALLY like Marmite to eat it neat mind.

Another option is a bendy knife, not sure they actually exist but it's a good idea.

Or you can pour in a little boiling water, put on lid, shake, dispense into a mug add more hot water and you have made a warming, nourishing wintery drink that tastes of marmite flavoured crisps

...or you could just re-design the jar...

What ? Are you mad ? A Marmite jar is a design icon. A part of all our childhood, it is up there with Coke bottles and Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles.

You are right that a re-design would solve the problem it just isn't allowed

I thought the real scientific mystery about Marmite was whether it was a solid, a liquid or an as-yet-unclassified fourth state of matter.

I'm fairly sure it's not a gas, so you can probably eliminate that from the enquiry. Although, has anyone ever tried to reduce Marmite to gaseous form and if so, what happened?

<>(

Yep we managed to do it, and a pretty sight, it was not. Don't try this if you ever want to use the pan again
I think we've found out how they make the stuff they use to patch potholes, or maybe an improved version. hmm.. ok whers theat patents form?

Won't it get a bit messy trying to spread it on my toast with my finger? I have to admit, I haven't tried it myself, but if you feel like doing a few home experiments, please let me know the results. I suppose, failing that, I could always switch to marmalade, but there are so many to choose from, I'd get ever so confused. There's never an easy solution to these sorts of problems is there...

if the concept bothers you it is possible to extract the marmite with your finger ... transfer to knife ... spread as usual ... have you noticed that if people like marmite they invariably don't like bovril and vice versa ... just a thought

I've never even heard of "bovril" - what is that stuff (just a word of warning - your antipodean fellows are often uninformed on matters of such crucial importance: it's a safe bet that the "marmite" I know is not the one you're familiar with, too!)?

Well, I don't like Marmite or Bovril. Being Australian, I'll stick to Vegemite. You can buy it in a plastic tube like toothpaste now. Then you don't need to worry about any being left in the jar.

I hate to sound ignorant (or American, I do resemble that remark) but what is Marmite? Or Bovril? Marmalade was mentioned but then again so was Vegemite (which I am familiar with).
What ever it is, if you can spread it on toast with fingers, why not just lick them? (the fingers that is, not the toast).

I don't know too much about Marmite (as in, not about how it's made, etc.), but I do know that it is quite similar to Vegemite - the taste is only slightly different, but with a gentler aroma and finish. It also spreads smoother, I think.

Bovril I haven't tasted, so I can't really help with that, but presumably - given that it's being discussed in this context - it's much the same sort of yeast culture, salty savoury sort of stuff...

Believe me, you aren't missing much.
Marmite and Bovril are melted tar that tastes pretty much like Twiglets, just more tar-like and melted.

Marmite is made from yeast and is vegetarian.
Bovril is made from beef and can be used as a beef stock.

The taste of both is VERY strong. I teaspoon of bovril with a mug of water is just about drinkalbe.
On toast it is spread REALLY thinly
ie only the real hard fans actually have it neat (ie off fingers)

Thanks guys, sounds yummy , to each thier own. I think I'll pass and stick to marmalade.

What about plasma?

Very, very wise.
NEVER EAT MARMITE!!!

I prefer Honey Sandwhiches myself, much sweeter...

Oh yes, honey and peanut butter, or just honey. Yummmm. Forget the bread, just the jar, thank you.

You seem my kind of person!