New Zealand is in crisis. It has been in crisis for a few months now. It has been discussed on radio and TV. People are getting desperate. Parents plea for their children. Many are feeling the loss. It was bad enough to see the death and destruction of the Christchurch earthquake. But as the city begins to heal, there has been added insult to injury. A factory had to close down. The Marmite factory. And as a result, there is a national shortage of Marmite.
Before you jump in and suggest that we substitute Marmite with Vegemite from Australia, or Marmite from the UK, I will point out a New Zealand’s Marmite is different. The recipe was altered back in the 1930s, and New Zealanders have grown up with their own brand of Marmite. Vegemite is similar, but different. Like the difference between Pepsi and Coke.
And so the disappearance of Marmite from the supermarket ands try shelves of the nation has been a major talking point. Those who still have some Marmite left (like me) feel smug. Others are selling their Marmite, with proceeds going to good causes (usually the earthquake). The other day I was in our local bagel/pizza place and noticed that they were promoting toasted bagels with Marmite for breakfast. “Get your fix here,” they advertised.
I know Americans find our love of Marmite (and Vegemite) strange. They usually hate it, but this is as much because they spread it on thickly like peanut butter, than the taste. Even the Marmite website comments on this, and apparently in the very early days of production back in the 1920s, the bottles used to have “too much spoils the flavour” written on the labels. Marmite is very cost-effective – it should be spread very thinly, the strong savoury taste diluted by butter and bread. Or perhaps you just have to grow up with it.
And yes, I did grow up eating Marmite; Marmite on toast, Marmite and cheese sandwiches for school lunches, and I know Marmite and lettuce sandwiches were also common, though not in our family. Plain Marmite sandwiches were our invalid food. In fact, I still hanker for flat lemonade, and Marmite sandwiches on white bread when I’m ill. Marmite came in small glass jars at the time, and so many households used old Marmite jars as glasses (the jars didn’t have any rim, and so were indistinguishable from a store-bought jar). We drank water, milk, and juice from Marmite jars as we grew up. In fact, I am sure I remember having my first sips of beer in a small Marmite jar, a few teaspoonfuls poured from my Dad’s more substantially sized glass.
The good news is that Kiwi kids will continue to grow up with Marmite. It isn’t, like so many of the structures of Christchurch, disappearing permanently from our cultural landscape. Apparently the factory will be repaired, and manufacturing is due to start again in July. For many New Zealanders, that can’t come soon enough.
I love Marmite, was brought up on the UK version. I didn’t realise that the NZ version is a different recipe (shame on me, having eaten Marmite on toast in Timaru!). I hope you can soon restock your shelf 🙂
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I love UK Marmite but remain indifferent to Vegemite. And I can’t stand Bovril. I’m not really curious to try the NZ Marmite. Hope the factory is back online soon.
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Fascinating. Of course now I want to try it. Especially if it’s unattainable.
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I think Canadians find it strange too 🙂
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I love Marmite but have never had the New Zealand sort. In what way is it different?
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This made me laugh. My daughters are both eating Marmite toast as I type. My husband grew up on the English version while in boarding school and he and my daughters love it. I (the American in the family) am the only one that’s not a fan. We also can not substitute Bovril in this house or Vegemite (even though that’s not available here). Hope it’s back in the stores for you soon.
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