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Spit or Swallow?
'Spit or Swallow?' - Quite possibly the biggest, most asked question in the 20th Century and it's very important in society.
I am of course talking about that substance which people either love or hate...Marmite!!! Personally i can't stand the stuff. The smell alone makes me wretch, let alone the taste.
So i was wondering...
Do you Spit or Swallow???
I am of course talking about that substance which people either love or hate...Marmite!!! Personally i can't stand the stuff. The smell alone makes me wretch, let alone the taste.
So i was wondering...
Do you Spit or Swallow???
I too refuse to go near the stuff, it's disgusting stuff and should have a Government Health Warning attached...horrible...
Posted: 11:46 Mar 21 2002
The Other Half loves it, especially on toast as a late night snack. I hate it. The combination can make for... interesting goodnight kisses. 
Posted: 12:32 Mar 21 2002 
Well put. And Red, how can you hate marmite but like twiglets? Its all evil.
by Jayjay
What is Marmite? Pure Rancid Evilness.
Posted: 12:45 Mar 21 2002 <Monica> I know!! </Monica>
by Watcher girl
And Red, how can you hate marmite but like twiglets?
Amusing little story ... when first living with hubby, made his sandwiches for work one day. He asked for Marmite. I'd never even seen it before then. Knew nothing about it. What I did know was that he liked his peanut butter *really* thick, so ...
He didn't talk to me for over a day. Not sure if that was pure anger or the fact that apparently a hole was burned into the roof of his mouth
Posted: 12:52 Mar 21 2002
Mmmmmmmmm, Marmite.....
You Marmite-haters are all mad! Still, if it means there's more for me..
You Marmite-haters are all mad! Still, if it means there's more for me..
Posted: 13:23 Mar 21 2002 
Put the swallow on the spit. Roast it. Eat it. No need for marmite at all.
Posted: 13:37 Mar 21 2002 Oh, thanks for answering my question, gobstopper.
by gobstopper
(quotes)
You assume correctly. Marmite (Vegiemite - elsewhere) is a yeast extract product. Bovril is beef extract.
How they are served? Well, I guess that entirely down to the individual. They can both serve as a spread (on toast etc...), or a spoonfull can be dissolved in a mug/cup of hot water to make a drink (nil/negligable fat and no caffiene).
So who decided it was food and why? I mean, Spam is awful and no rational person would ever want to eat it, but it at least had a purpose originally as a war ration.
Both bovril and marmite sound godawful, particularly marmite. Is it an acquired taste, or if you like it, did you like it immediately?
How do you extract something from beef? Why would you want something hot in a cup that has no caffeine?
Does marmite have a sweet flavor, or is it savory? From what Red said, it sounds like it may be seasoned with pepper or other spices?
(Edited by Diandra 21/03/2002 15:31)
Posted: 14:10 Mar 21 2002
Diandra, Marmite is basically salty in taste, and very concentrated. It was a waste product from the brewing industry and was marketed as a food when someone discovered that it was a good source of B vitamins (shortly after the invention of vitamins IIRC).
I love Marmite but hate Bovril!
And please remember that you are talking to inhabitants of the country that invented such delicacies as instant mashed potato, Spam and salad cream. Not that you lot are much better: I have yet to be convinced that there is a place for pineapple on pizzas
Personally I don't think that bears thinking about
by Diandra
How do you extract something from beef?
I love Marmite but hate Bovril!And please remember that you are talking to inhabitants of the country that invented such delicacies as instant mashed potato, Spam and salad cream. Not that you lot are much better: I have yet to be convinced that there is a place for pineapple on pizzas
Posted: 15:16 Mar 21 2002
Marmite isn't really a foodstuff per se - It's more of an industrial residue. Apparently, the waste from the brewer's yeast used (originally_) in the Bass brewery at Stoke-on_Trent can be induced to digest itself (the stuff is *alive*?) and create a concentrate. This may be further concentrated by adding salt (which ruptures the waste cells osmotically).
The result is a thick, dark brown/black paste slightly thinner than toothpaste with a taste rather as you'd imagine dried beer would taste, with salt, spices and a meaty tang (although Marmite is vegetarian-friendly). It was sold around Burton-on-Trent as a sort of working-class patum peperium, and has a similarly intense flavour (a very little marmite goes a long way).
It is also high in protein, Vitamin B, Niacin and Riboflavin, I think, and quite a good protein supplement for veggies.
Bovril is a whole different kettle of beef entirely...they are united by a comparable texture and appearance, but Bovril was originally intended as a soup flavouring, and is made of liquid cow. Pretty gross.
They are both instantiations of the very British tendency to incorporate things that could never under any circumstances be considered foodstuffs into our national cuisine.
Midn you, don't get me started on how disgusting North America's worst food excesses can be...
The result is a thick, dark brown/black paste slightly thinner than toothpaste with a taste rather as you'd imagine dried beer would taste, with salt, spices and a meaty tang (although Marmite is vegetarian-friendly). It was sold around Burton-on-Trent as a sort of working-class patum peperium, and has a similarly intense flavour (a very little marmite goes a long way).
It is also high in protein, Vitamin B, Niacin and Riboflavin, I think, and quite a good protein supplement for veggies.
Bovril is a whole different kettle of beef entirely...they are united by a comparable texture and appearance, but Bovril was originally intended as a soup flavouring, and is made of liquid cow. Pretty gross.
They are both instantiations of the very British tendency to incorporate things that could never under any circumstances be considered foodstuffs into our national cuisine.
Midn you, don't get me started on how disgusting North America's worst food excesses can be...
Posted: 15:22 Mar 21 2002
Ah well, thanks for the detail, Tannhauser and White Hart. And I hope I didn't offend anyone's sense of national pride by knocking marmite and bovril--was just logging back on to delete my snarky comment when I saw it had already been responded to. Oops. Sorry!
I don't understand pineapple on regular pizza either. But pineapple on pizzas that have a barbecue sauce base is very good.
BTW, I'm quite sure that American has justified its existence by inventing barbecued ribs. There's a place in Memphis, the King's Cafe, that has THE best barbecue ribs. I'm nearly swooning thinking about it.
I don't understand pineapple on regular pizza either. But pineapple on pizzas that have a barbecue sauce base is very good.
BTW, I'm quite sure that American has justified its existence by inventing barbecued ribs. There's a place in Memphis, the King's Cafe, that has THE best barbecue ribs. I'm nearly swooning thinking about it.
Posted: 15:36 Mar 21 2002 I thought barbecue ribs were Chinese
by Diandra
BTW, I'm quite sure that American has justified its existence by inventing barbecued ribs. There's a place in Memphis, the King's Cafe, that has THE best barbecue ribs. I'm nearly swooning thinking about it
Maybe that's a different sort.
Posted: 16:07 Mar 21 2002
by White Hart
(quotes)
I thought barbecue ribs were Chinese?
Well, chop suey was really invented in America, so i guess it's all pretty complicated.
Posted: 16:27 Mar 21 2002 It's simple - There isn't
by White Hart
I have yet to be convinced that there is a place for pineapple on pizzas
Cold Pinapple = Mmmmm!
Warm/Hot Pineapple =
Posted: 17:02 Mar 21 2002
Sorry, I can't keep my silence on this tangential subject any longer. Hawaiian pizza's rule! Why not have a bit of fruit on your pizza? Don't be so stuffy.
Tastes nicer than that bilious gunk called Marmite, that's for sure...
Tastes nicer than that bilious gunk called Marmite, that's for sure...
Posted: 17:09 Mar 21 2002
Hmm, I'm not too sure about Hawaiin pizza, but substitute the ham for bacon & you've got a cracking pizza
Posted: 17:15 Mar 21 2002
Chicken and pineapple pizzas rule! But the best fruit to have on pizza is banana - crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside.
Back to the original point - marmite disgusting
Back to the original point - marmite disgusting
Posted: 17:34 Mar 21 2002 I suppose it all depends on your view of pizza. I know a lot of people consider pizza to be an American dish and a true culinary catch-all (our local Domino's was doing lamb doner pizza with chilli sauce not too long ago
by Jayjay
Sorry, I can't keep my silence on this tangential subject any longer. Hawaiian pizza's rule! Why not have a bit of fruit on your pizza? Don't be so stuffy.
). I, on the other hand, am convinced that pizza is a classic Italian dish and best kept simple and traditional Anyway, I don't like pineapple much in anything. Given the choice, I'd go for Marmite every time
(Edited by White Hart 21/03/2002 18:36)
Posted: 18:36 Mar 21 2002