Marmite, Vegemite, Natex, Meridian... (yeast extracts)

[tabitha]

I love marmite. Its comfort food. I always want it if Im ill. Is Vegemite not vegan? why?

[aubergine]

isn't Vegemite made by Kraft though?

It certainly is.

I want to find an independantly made Yeast extract, but my local Health Food shop only stocks Natex which tastes of ear wax. Yuck!

[Pob]

I want to find an independantly made Yeast extract, but my local Health Food shop only stocks Natex which tastes of ear wax. Yuck!

I'll have to take your word for that!
I don't think it tastes any worse than Marmite - just less salty.

[aubergine]

I'll have to take your word for that!
I don't think it tastes any worse than Marmite - just less salty.

Ok... Maybe not exactly.

I find that it's not as smooth as Marmite. The Sainsburys one is marked as Vegan, but it tastes exactly the same as the real thing and seeing as they outsource some of their own brand products, my guess is that it is actually Marmite.

[Bunny]

I love Marmite... I eat jarloads of it. I eat it with everything. When I had terrible morning sickness it was all I could stomach. I can eat it by the teaspoon, but try not too as it is probably too salty to be healthy in vast quantities.

[Gorilla]

I want to find an independantly made Yeast extract, but my local Health Food shop only stocks Natex which tastes of ear wax. Yuck!

have you tried Meridian yeast extract? if you can get hold of it you might like it, i think most branches of Holland & Barett stock their products. their website might help you find their stockists: Here their jams/spreads and nut butters are lovely too so they might be worth searching for.

[John]

I bought a jar of Marmite once and I found the stuff quite delicious. I did notice, however, that it was made by Unilever and that didn't make me feel too good. But the real reason I haven't bought Marmite again is probably the fact that I paid about $4 for a tiny jar about the size of a thimble which only lasted a couple of days.

[RedWellies]

Even if it wasn't made by Unilever I wouldn't eat the stuff if you paid me! I use it as a scale to rate food I don't like...it's even worse than mushrooms and I can't stand mushrooms!

[VeganJohn]

I can't believe you hate ALL mushrooms? There are so many varieties, have you tried them all? I must admit I really don't like tinned mushrooms!!

As for Marmite, I never buy it and can take it or leave it as they say. It seemsto hurt the roof of my mouth whenever I eat it.

[RedWellies]

I can't believe you hate ALL mushrooms? There are so many varieties, have you tried them all? .

I've tried lots of different sorts but I don't like the taste or texture. I keep trying from time to time as tastes can change but I they still make me want to gag! (I haven't tried "magic mushrooms" )

[Pob]

I haven't tried "magic mushrooms"

Only ever had em in a cup of tea. And they were how I would imagine a slug on a piece of straw to be. Plus they are generally infested with little crawly critters - hmmm - guess that makes them pretty unvegan. You gotta laugh, though - or maybe sit and rock in the corner and hope people will stop looking at you.

"Normal" flat, button, white, or chestnut mushrooms are the only sort I really like. But I do like them a hell of a lot.

[akaredarcher]

We also have another alterative in our cupboard at the moment - Aussie Mite (Brand:All Natural Foods) which is a yeast & vegetable extract. It is the consistency of mayonnaise (which I find weird enough to not eat it) & claims to be suitable for diabetics & vegetarians, GM Free & Gluten-free. However, the ingredients listing looks mighty suspicious to me re vegan-friendliness: vegetable extract, protein (no specifics as to source), maltodextrin, thickener (1401), sugar, salt, yeast extract, yeast, food acid (330), natural colour (caramel), niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folate & water added.

'Natural' caramel colour? Anybody??

Diana
akaredarcher

[Tigerlily]

I'd be worried about the source of the protein.

[akaredarcher]

I'm concerned about the protein too. However it seems like my boyfriend's mother is really the only one who eats it (boyfriend prefers the taste of vegemite & I dislike the consistency of this product). And she visits for about a week at a time every 2 to 3 months (she's working inter-state & we're minding her house for her).

I've also recently come to the point where if there are things on the label that I can't identify (like food acids, thickeners, preservatices etc) then I am VERY reluctant to consume it. I dilike having non-vegan stuff in the house but compromise on meat for our dogs (make boyfriend feed them though!) & occasional meat for my boyfriend to consume (I'm mentally preparing myself at the moment because this week my boyfriend chose liver & bacon! Ack!).

Boyfriend's mother also responsible for bringing in alot of non-vegan items including cheese & more cheese, honey, ham & other deli-style meats, & dairy yogurt. I appreciate that this is her house but when she's here she completely takes over the house & my fridge is so depressing for me - packed full of all this stuff that I don't eat, nestled nest to things that I do eat. It's so frustrating to say the least.

Diana
akaredarcher

[Zombified]

Even if it wasn't made by Unilever I wouldn't eat the stuff if you paid me! I use it as a scale to rate food I don't like...it's even worse than mushrooms and I can't stand mushrooms!

You don't fancy one of my marmite and mushroom toasted sandwiches then?
Ambrosia

[Tigerlily]

Alright! I never tried any Marmite, Vegemite, or any other brand of yeast spread thingy. Should I try some? Yes? No? I love salty things and I love soy sauce, if that makes a difference. How should I try it my first time?

[Roxy]

Use extremely fresh bread

Spread on a good amount of vegan margarine

Spread on the vegemite sparinlgly

Taste

If you like it, spread it on a little thicker next time

Less is more when it comes to these products.

[aubergine]

have you tried Meridian yeast extract? if you can get hold of it you might like it, i think most branches of Holland & Barett stock their products. their website might help you find their stockists: Here their jams/spreads and nut butters are lovely too so they might be worth searching for.

I'll have a look next time I'm in there, thanks.

[RedWellies]

You don't fancy one of my marmite and mushroom toasted sandwiches then?

[catmogg]

I use natex, its lovely and approved by the vegetarian society....

[Bunny]

I hate mushrooms too Redwellies! Do you find that makes things extra difficult if you try and eat out anywhere? Everyone assumes that if you're vegan you must LOVE mushrooms!

Marmite is really salty, so if you like salt you may well like it. I have it about an inch thick on anything, which most people find disgusting!

[RedWellies]

Do you find that makes things extra difficult if you try and eat out anywhere? !

Yes, sometimes. I get offered wild mushroom risotto a lot! When I book a restaurant now I tell them I'm vegan and that I don't like mushrooms. I think I'm a challenge for them!

[Bunny]

Wild mushroom risotto must be their standard dinner for "one of those weird vegan people"... I get offered that too!

[puffin]

I love mushroom but i dont get to eat them very often because my husband and kids cant stand them
Oh and marmite is great with peanut butter

[Bunny]

Oh, I have never tried marmite and peanut butter... breakfast tomorrow is sorted then!

[Blueshark]

Yeah I will, had some vegemite - some aussies gave me some when I was on holiday. I liked the taste, so I think I will get some. Also I hear it is good for you, with B12 and all.

[akaredarcher]

Oh and marmite is great with peanut butter

I also have found this to be a great combination ontoast/sandwiches. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy when I do it but what would he know - he's a silly omni who eats peanutbutter & honey!

Diana
akaredarcher

[Gorilla]

i like yeast extract with big slices of cucumber in sandwiches or on rice cakes.

i don't know why, but i really like the regular Meridian yeast extract, and yet the low salt version tastes horrible on its own. i made the mistake of buying a jar of it, and now i'm trying to use it up in stews and sauces. i wouldn't recommend the low salt one unless you're really worried about your salt intake

[Cumin]

i like yeast extract with big slices of cucumber in sandwiches or on rice cakes.

Couldn't agree more. In fact, any salad + yeast-x combo seems to be great.
I also like it with P-Butter, doubled up between toast slices... mm.. but it must have spread/marg too.

[RedWellies]

i like yeast extract with big slices of cucumber in sandwiches

I don't like cucumber. OMG, I'm so fussy!

[Haniska]

Anybody know if the Vitamin fortification is vegan? And where do they get vegan Vitamin B-12 anyway?

[the_marmite_kid]

undecided.... no i love it, it goes in all meaty style dishes and is lovely on toast. i used to hate it and could only tolerate it very thinly spread on toast now its a good inch thick (slight exageration) but it is lovely. ive been meaning to try an alternative. whats the next best version? veggiemite?

[akaredarcher]

I don't like cucumber. OMG, I'm so fussy!

Not fussy - just selective. Knowing what you want/like isn't a crime.

Diana
akaredarcher

[puffin]

Oh, I have never tried marmite and peanut butter... breakfast tomorrow is sorted then!

Did you try the peanut butter and marmite? If so did you like it?

Akaredarcher, peanut butter and honey If i wasnt vegan there is no way i would try that combo I guess you could use syrup but even that sounds pretty nasty.

[RedWellies]

Knowing what you want/like isn't a crime.

Ha, I'm going to remember that and post it all over the place!

[tabitha]

Fake cheese and marmite is nice...i think it is anyway.

[puffin]

Fake cheese and marmite is nice...i think it is anyway.

Now your talking, yum yum.

[akaredarcher]

Akaredarcher, peanut butter and honey If i wasnt vegan there is no way i would try that combo I guess you could use syrup but even that sounds pretty nasty.

I know, I thinks it's gross. I was never a huge fan of honey even before going vegan so it's not really something that I miss. I am a fan of peanutbutter & vegemite though We have a big tub of honey in our cupboard because of the omni boyfriend's tastes - yesterday though my boyfriend's mother was shoving it on boyfriend's nephews food too Gave nephew weetbix with soy milk (he can't tell the difference & happily has it at our house). Boyfriend's mother then said 'oh would you like some honey on that, here you are' & proceeded to dollop honey on his weetbix - argh! She also made them butter & honey sandwiches for afternoon tea as well.

I agree that using syrup on a sandwich with peanutbutter would be truly nasty. Syrup's good on porridge though, mmm.

Diana
akaredarcher

[akaredarcher]

Fake cheese and marmite is nice...i think it is anyway.

You can get vegemite flavoured cheese here in Australia. I guess it saves omnis from having to strain their lard-filled bodies to spread some vegemite on their bread.
If you were making a home-made vegan cheese substitute you could add some marmite/vegemite to it...

Diana
akaredarcher

[puffin]

Gave nephew weetbix with soy milk (he can't tell the difference & happily has it at our house). Boyfriend's mother then said 'oh would you like some honey on that, here you are' & proceeded to dollop honey on his weetbix - argh! She also made them butter & honey sandwiches for afternoon tea as well.

I agree that using syrup on a sandwich with peanutbutter would be truly nasty. Syrup's good on porridge though, mmm.

Diana
akaredarcher

I have never heard of anyone putting honey on weetabix before.
Shame the mother in law has to add honey to everything thought

[Aylish]

Walker's Marmite chips are very good.

[Bunny]

Did you try the peanut butter and marmite? If so did you like it?

I did try it It was nice! I have some really nice peanut butter from a local health food shop that has nothing added (no emulsifiers, palm oil etc) and it was perfect!

Thank you!

[puffin]

I did try it It was nice! I have some really nice peanut butter from a local health food shop that has nothing added (no emulsifiers, palm oil etc) and it was perfect!

Thank you!

Excellent Sounds like a lovely peanut butter you had to.

Aylish, i didnt think the marmite crisps were vegan I dont eat crisps but i am sure they had lactose in them.

[Haniska]

I put marmite in my last batch of cheese instead of salt. Worked out fine

[lozza]

hey has anyone else heard about this?

apparently, its a landmark in marmite history. they have created a new squeezy upside down tube (i think) and the texture of the marmite is a bit thinner, however still the same taste.

my boyfriend read it in the metro. and it said that its only in sainsburys stores just now, and it will hit the rest of the supermarkets at the end of the month. i havent seen it in my sainsburys. but others might have it.

i've got a dilemma..i really wanna buy & try, but i'm confused about who makes marmite. someone said its owned by unilever, and if so, i dont wanna buy it (i currently buy the supermarket own brand) but we looked on the back of a marmite jar & it said "unilever foods" (i think)... that sounds like a different company to me.. but would it still be owned by unilever? surely a different company couldnt have the same name?

[Gorilla]

i heard that they were developing this a while ago, but they seemed to be having so much trouble they didn't think it'd ever be marketable... it's taken them 12 years to develop apparently.

Unilever Foods is just a branch owned by the main Unilever company. check out the 'Marmite - love it or hate it' thread.

[lozza]

so they ARE owned by unilever? and buying this would be giving money to unilever?

12 years tho?! wtf? why? to create a squeezy tube...thats a bit dumb.

i will read the other thread..thanks!

[lozza]

i love marmite. always have..i have been eating it since i was a kid. i love it on toast..but i dont think it goes with anything else..apart from butter/marg. oh i suppose it goes nice on a cracker with 'cheese'.

but...is no one else concerned that its made by unilever foods? am i the only person worrying about this? i dont buy the real stuff anyway..i buy the supermarket one. lidl's is nice & runny..and asda/tesco's is sorta thick..nice as well

[puffin]

but...is no one else concerned that its made by unilever foods? am i the only person worrying about this? i dont buy the real stuff anyway..i buy the supermarket one. lidl's is nice & runny..and asda/tesco's is sorta thick..nice as well

Lozza if you read more of the thread you will see the concerns other people have about it being owned by unilever. I am also searching for another brand, but veggemite is out of the question because it taste awful. I am hoping i will find one i like from all the information that has been posted on here. If not it looks like i will have to go without.

[lozza]

woops..i only skim-read over it before..

hmm im not a big fan of vegemite..it tastes ok..but i think it smells a bit like vodka to be honest..even though i like vodka.

hmm..