The History of Marmite

Marmite was invented in the late 19th century when a German scientist named Justus von Liebig discovered that leftover brewers' yeast could be concentrated and made into a consumable spread. In 1902, the Marmite Food Company was founded in England and began producing and selling the savory spread. Made from yeast extract and fortified with B vitamins, Marmite became very popular in the UK, where people began to spread it onto toast, crackers, and sandwiches. Marmite is distinct from its Australian cousin, Vegemite, which includes onion, malt, and celery extracts and offers a more vegetal, umami-rich flavor than the comparably sweeter Marmite. Vegemite is also thicker in consistency and darker in color than Marmite. Today, Marmite remains a UK staple and is produced by Unilever. The Marmite line includes original or unflavored Marmite along with several newer flavor options, including Marmite Truffle, Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter, Reduced Salt Marmite, Marmite Chili, and Marmite XO (an extra-concentrated variety). The majority of Marmite is consumed within the UK.