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

It's really funny to hand a 'foreigner' a jar of Vegemite and watch them dollop it onto bread like it's nuttela....I've had to leap in many times and explain to them that that's NOT how you eat it!

This vegimite was purchased in NZ and in the UK - so it might be different. It looks black on toast, but in the jar it looks browner (also, vegemite seems to come in a brown jar, whereas marmite is a much smokier, blacker jar, so maybe it is translucent?)

We managed to culture a small community of something excitingly columnar on the top of our vegimite when we left it in the front room.

In my family, vegemite is used for medicinal purposes. Sort of like the proverbial chicken soup. Not feeling well - have some vegemite on toast. My mother also drinks vegemite disolved in boiling water. Interesting fact - Vegemite was once made in the small sugar town of Sarina in Nth Queensland.

You are all mad. get help immediately. for all our sakes.

What's the matter Bob?
Haven't they got any yeast extract products on Mars?

And it's true, you have to spread it thin.......!

Actually, I like to spread Marmite thick with no butter. I think the roof of my mouth is an acceptable sacrifice for the resulting taste sensation.

But that's not why I'm here. I'm here to shove in my four penn'orth about the Marmite vs. Vegemite debate. As you might have guessed, I prefer Marmite, but I can see how antipodeans prefer Vegemite. You see, British Marmite is different to NZ (and I'm assuming the Australian stuff is the same) Marmite. NZ Marmite has (listen as all British readers gasp in indignation) *SUGAR* in it . Imagine mixing 2 parts Marmite with 1 part black treacle. Just imagine; don't try, it's nasty. I preferred Vegemite to THAT stuff, too.

In the UK, I'm sure Vegemite is saltier than marmite.

No, I'm not mad - my mother is!

Marmite is definately sweeter than Vegemite in Oz. I'd go for Vegemite every time - Marmite (and Promite to, come to think of it) always remind me of my grandmother. You do need a fair bit of butter spread with it. And you can't beat Vegemite and butter on warm bread straight from the bakery.

I lived in New Zealand for a couple of years before returning to the U.K. and substitued Marmite with Vegemite. I must admit I prefer Marmite as I'm sure that Vegemite is sweeter than Marmite.

Something similar and better than both is "Natex" who market a low-salt yeast extract suitable for vegetarians and vegans and a standard "salty" yeast extract both of which are totally yummy! I tend to use the low salt version (I've been told to limit my salt intake) which I mix with tahini (sesami seed paste) on toast or mix with crunchy, no added salt, organic peanut butter (heaps of calories).

Whoever talks about sprouts in this manner, should recieve capital punishment! Sprouts are amongst the best veggi's around!

Sprouts are amongst the best veggi's around fly-invested compost heaps

I've never made a habit of hanging about on fly-infested compost heaps, so I wouldn't know that

Who cares which one tastes better. If you put a blindfold on and ate them, I bet you'd go for Pespi any day.
Although Marmite does have better marketing and the greatest range of jars. Has anyone seen the Love is.../Hate is... perfect 70 retro advetising.

I like the ad where the girl invites him in for 'Coffee'.

BTW did you get your name from a well-known show starring Paul Whitehouse? because that's where I got my domain name from

I have a couple of the large Marmite jars which I keep a coin collection in... And yes, I used the patented 'scoop-out-with-the-finger' method to remove the last of the Marmite.

What's wrong with the taste of Marmite by itself?!?

Not a lot, though it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you have a mouth ulcer... ouch!

The old ozzy add.goes like this.
We're happy little vegemites,
As bright as bright can be,
We all enjoy our vegemite,
for breakfast,lunch and tea,
Because we love our vegemite,
We all adore our vegemite.
It put's a rose in every cheek.

VEGEMITE RULES O.K.

Rocket

Some doubting Thomases seem to think there is no difference in taste - we ran a blind taste test at my last job in NZ, with non-Marmite/Vegemite consumers AND Marmite/Vegemite addicts on the testing panel. ALL panel members noticed distinct differences between the two products. "Urrrrrgh, that MUST be Marmite" and "Mmmm, yum, Vegemite" were typical responses. (amazing what you can get up to on a slow day with the right co-workers )
Personally, I can eat either (despite having a preference for Veg). However, on coming to the UK I got a rude shock with the bitter sump sludge they call Marmite here. And when will they put it into jars where you can get it all out? Even HP comes in squeezy bottles! So, off to Sainbury's to pay thru the nose for the miniscule Vegemite jars they seem to stock... (and take pity on the poor NZers who prefer NZ marmite)

Yes, there is difference in most common food items in N.Z. and the U.K. which my kids noticed when we returned from N.Z. after two years there and my son refused to eat cheese unless I bought the more expensive Anchor cheese which was imported from N.Z.! Neither child objected to the obvious difference in Vegemite and UK Marmite though. My daughter who is a vegan (like myself) was really pleased to see "SoGood" available and advertising on t.v. recently here in the U.K. and I have had to buy the chocolate version by the gallon for her since.