Marmite

A New Zealand delicacy and favorite is Marmite (similar to Vegemite from Australia).  Marmite is sold in peanut-butter sized jars, and is a very dark brown.  The baby I care for loves it on bite-sized toast for breakfast.  And trying to be as kiwi as possible, I figured if the baby could eat it, so could I (and besides, I'm not a picky eater and like trying new things).

First, what is Marmite?  Marmite is a spread made popular in the UK (where lots of NZ history is from) that the kiwis adopted, changed a bit, and made their own.  It is a sticky paste-like, salty and savoury (how the kiwis describe the opposite of sweet) substance made from yeast-extract.  I spread a thin layer on Evelyn's toast, and made a slice for myself.  I made the toast similar to PB&J.  I used a spoon to dig out the Marmite, and spread it on the toast.  There was a chunk of Marmite left on the spoon when I was finished spreading, so I thought I would have a taste (it reminded me of Nutella, what can I say).  Yuck!!!  The concentrated flavor was so intense and unexpected, that I could barely swallow. Evelyn giggled as she ate her toast, content as ever, and I sat there, disappointed, allowing the Marmite toast to get cold as I prepared peanut butter toast instead.