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timbaboon

South African here and I have nothing polite to say about Marmite ;)

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South African here. Wash you mouth out with soap then eat some tasty Marmite with margarine on toast.

Does the soap hide the taste of the Marmite? Or is it the other way around?

The joke, such as it was, is based on the pun on the phrase "wash your mouth out with soap".

This is usually a punishment for children who have uttered taboo or blasephous words (the idea being that you said a dirty word and your mouth needs cleaning).

The other side being in reference to needing to litterally clean one's (dirty) mouth so that the taste of marmite can be savoured and enjoyed.

Condsider this JOKE EXPLAINED!!

This is the problem with the "marmite could lead to peace in the middle east" theory (high zinc content).

You would then have vicious infighting between those who love, and those who hate marmite.

Oddly, can't stand marmite usually, however, twiglets are ridiculously tasty.

> Oddly, can't stand marmite usually, however, twiglets are ridiculously tasty.

I'm entirely the other way round. Twiglets are a punishment meted out by an insane diety for consuming too many snacks in a former life.

Ha! see, like Marmite and Vegemite, they cause more polarization among consumers than US Republican/Democrat politics do among voters.

"...however, twiglets are ridiculously tasty"

Love 'em too (but don't often buy them as I've insufficient self-control to leave a packet half uneaten)! ;-)

> marmite could lead to peace in the middle east

Right after we finally decide who has the best hummus.

Margarine doesn't have enough salt for this dish. You need butter.

So what's all the fuss about then? Surely someone there eats (and presumably likes) it.

My departed mother and aunts loved the stuff but I'll eat it out of desperation/under sufferance when Vegemite isn't available. Where both products are available in a bousehold there's never-ending wars over which is best. That's almost inevitable. :-)

I’m American and I ate a pretty good amount when I lived in the UK bc it’s high in B vitamins.

I made this “sandwich” with a crumpet, polish mayo (winiary), marmite and sometimes a scotch egg and/or sauerkraut. It was disgusting, I mostly created it b/c it was cheap, but it was a staple of mine and a very British one at that (aside from the kraut). The polish mayo is an import but I’d still say very london at this point, I got it from sainsburys, but could just as well have picked it up from any number of polish stores. Anyway, marmite’s alright.

winiary is owned by Nestle, so it's hardly polish mayo

This comment alone is probably enough to get you ongoing "indefinite leave to remain" and work in the UK.

Just take the "sandwich" with you to immigration.. fastest visa paperwork in the history of formal countries.

Most British thing ever said and it's not by a Brit

...But you had to dilute it with extras, that's cheating!

True 'native' eaters like me spoon it straight from the jar! No problems.... ;-)

Edit: shame there's no image posting here or I'd demonstrate (squirm factor).

I think Polish shops are pretty common across the UK these days - in Huntingdon (pop. 23k, 1 h north of London) there are at least two, and you can pick it up in the big supermarket (Tesco).

I think it has gone down a bit from the peak around 2016, but Poland became something like the third or fourth most common place of birth in the UK (after the UK, India and Pakistan I think) with roughly one million Polish immigrants.

[I have a Polish boyfriend living in the UK, so know too much about this ;-) ]

It's an extremely salty, umami taste. Both flavours most people like, but too much of a good thing for the unprepared palatte.

I like a thin layer of X-mite between a piece of toast and a fried egg. I find eggs need a lot of salt, so X-mite is a good combination.

Growing up my brother loved the stuff, but personally I could never figure out why...it really is an acquired taste.

Especially so if one's not introduced to it early - not long after weaning.

I tried both as an adult and like both on occasion. I cook with them more often than I use them as a spread though. Vegemite seems to have more and different vegetable flavors noticable. Marmite seems a little sweeter, like a savory nutella or hagelslag (sp?). I'll put either on toast with butter, but I like them a lot better in soups or stews. With thai fish sauce, for when you have a fever for more umame.

Good summary, you're unusual (and have good taste). :-)

South African here and I agree.

Also South African, also agree.

See comment above.

Bovril is obviously superior.

Uh, not if you're a Vegemite eater!

My British roommate in college always talked about Bovril, but with his accent, it sounded exactly like Bog Roll. It still makes me chuckle to think about.

I cannot get this in the U.S. thus I have to wince while consuming marmite.

But you are 101% correct.

Amazon has it but you're gonna pay for it.

I only see Bovrite.

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