Tried marmite for the first time...

[Star555]

Having been an expat for most of my life, I had not tasted the mystery that is marmite before yesterday. I had heard and read about it, and knew that I would "love it or hate it". I thought that lockdown would be the perfect time to try something new, so I ordered a jar and spread a THIN layer on my buttered toast yesterday. I took a bite anticipating some bizarre smell/taste, but surprisingly the only thing I tasted was SALT. It was overwhelmingly salty, and nothing else (no good/bad smell, texture, etc.). I'm afraid I've fallen into the camp of heretics who dislike marmite, but I'm curious: is it just my taste buds or has anyone else felt exceedingly overwhelmed by only the sheer saltiness of even a thin layer of marmite, with no other reactions to the smell, texture, etc?

Marmite roast potatoes are delicious.

I've had food poisoning from marmite btw but discovered DH used to use the buttery knife to dip into the jar and I think that was the problem.

I mix it in unevenly with lashings of butter. Salty, creamy, almost beefy

@BuffaloCauliflower I'm the same as you, so it makes for an interesting life! Our first fight was after I'd scraped some 'fluff' off the top of a jar of pesto and served it to him. (OK, I'll admit to you it was mould but 24 years later I'm still not admitting it to him)

As for pickles...

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett I regularly scrape mould off, it’s fine! So much food gets wasted unnecessarily. I’m being mildly more careful at the moment as I’m pregnant, but nowhere near how I assume the masses would approach jar fluff 😂 my DH has been fully conditioned to my ways thankfully.

I've had food poisoning from marmite btw but discovered DH used to use the buttery knife to dip into the jar and I think that was the problem

Eek! DP found it very tricky navigating the assorted spoons and knives for things when we first got together - he’s the type to stick a - -licked- - buttery knife in the jam without thinking, whereas were very much against contamination and double dipping of any kind! Luckily I’ve trained him well, and he no longer eats yogurt straight from the (big) tub and puts it back in the fridge otherwise he’d be under the patio by now.

Disgusting stuff. One of my daughters eats it in all sorts. Scrambled egg on top of marmite on toast. A spoonful in beans on toast. She seems to think it has vitamins in.

It is very salty. You probably just don't like it.

As an aside, the pre-mixed marmite and butter is vom. You need the butter and marmite to be separate layers to get the proper taste.

I've had vegemite and found it more bitter and less "meaty" - it was OK and would probably fill a marmite craving, but I prefer marmite.

I use marmite in jacket potatoes, in spag Bol, gravy, quiche I love it.

I don't know if its a coincidence, but when I add marmite back into my diet, I end up with thrush.

I love marmite, but just daren't eat it!

I am dairy intolerant and miss cheese so very much ( sob) - there are some useful fake cheeses for some purposes but they don’t really get that savoury tang. Marmite does - and it’s more than just the salt. Marmite on a crispbread, with hummus and maybe a slice of tomato is my daily lunch ( crispbreads plural) or a snack. Going to get one now.......

@JaneBofCartmel

Disgusting stuff. One of my daughters eats it in all sorts. Scrambled egg on top of marmite on toast. A spoonful in beans on toast. She seems to think it has vitamins in.

Vitamin B - a whole range.

@JaneBofCartmel

Disgusting stuff. One of my daughters eats it in all sorts. Scrambled egg on top of marmite on toast. A spoonful in beans on toast. She seems to think it has vitamins in.

She’s right. It’s rich in B vitamins which are important for metabolism and healthy skin etc - a look here for all the benefits [[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/marmite-health-benefit-heart-vitamin-sleep-magnesium-a7867336.html%3famp]]

I’m still not eating it but your DD is very wise!

Aww crap. Link fail!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/marmite-health-benefit-heart-vitamin-sleep-magnesium-a7867336.html%3famp

Coming back to this to say marmite has been out of stock in Morrisons so I bought their home brew yeast extract for a fraction of the price and have just had some on a homemade cheese scone with half a pack of butter. It’s very good. Definitely worth a try. Slightly more sour and got a tiny bit more burn, but I’m a heavy marmite user.

You don't really like your daughter much, do you @JaneBofCartmel?

It's tolerable as an additive to a stew, half a teaspoon or so to add depth to the flavour but otherwise it's disgusting. Peanut butter on the other hand is the food of the Gods and enjoyable with many things.

Spread it on thick, you might like it if you can taste it

OP here, just circling back after a couple more attempts at eating marmite toast. Thank you all for your advice, especially @ErrolTheDragon, @MsChatterbox and @DangerCake! Your advice to use much less than a "thin layer", and to put a sprinkling here and there instead of covering the whole piece of toast was exactly what I needed! I am indeed able to taste the umami now (it's still very salty but no longer overwhelmingly so), and quite like it! You have saved an innocent soul from being misled down the dark path of a marmite-less life...thank you!

Best news to get today 🤣

It's an ingredient for boosting stews but not for use on its own.

Life is nothing without marmite.

This is very true. Livens up an otherwise dull meal. Cannot eat spag bollux without it.