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Marmite: Love It or Hate It

Marmite with butter on toast

Before Reading Tasks

Task 1: Answer the questions (🗣️ or ✍️)

a) If you haven't tried Marmite before, what do you think it tastes like?

b) If you have tried it, what does it taste like? Do you like it?

c) Is there anything like this in your country?

d) What are other common breakfasts in New Zealand?

Marmite: Love It or Hate It

Marmite is a spread made of yeast extracts, spice extracts and vitamins and minerals. The flavour is bold and salty, and for people who didn’t grow up with it, it can be too strong and take a long time to get used to. Some people never end up liking it at all. It’s one of those things where you either love it or you hate it.

Marmite is most commonly eaten with butter on toast for breakfast or as a snack throughout the day. Some people also like having their Marmite on toast with cheese on top. There’s light debate around how much Marmite is the correct amount to put on your toast. Some dab it on, and others spread a thick layer on.

Marmite originated in England and came by boat to New Zealand in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, Sanitarium, a New Zealand health food brand, began making a local version with a different recipe, and it has been manufactured in Christchurch ever since.

In Australia, a similar spread called Vegemite became popular in the 1920s. While Marmite is also sold there, it is much less common. In New Zealand, many people say they are either a Marmite person or a Vegemite person, and there is much more debate about which spread is better. As the two spreads are quite similar, you may be wondering what the difference between them is. In terms of flavour, Marmite is a bit less salty and slightly sweeter than Vegemite. In terms of texture, Vegemite is thicker than Marmite.

So, do you think you might be a Marmite person or a Vegemite person? If you haven’t tried them yet, there’s only one way to find out. But just a heads up, some people don’t like either of them!

After Reading Tasks

Task 1: Answer the comprehension questions (🗣️ or ✍️)

a) Are Vegemite and Marmite from the same place?

b) Do Marmite and Vegemite taste the same?

c) What are the two debates that New Zealanders have about yeast spreads?

Task 2: Answer the discussion/reflection questions (🗣️ or ✍️)

a) What other food do people have strong opinions on?

b) Is there a food or drink in your country that people have strong opinions on?

Task 3: Find the bolded word/phrase in the reading that match each definition below

a) A small fungus that helps bread rise and is used to make beer: Yeast

b) Wanting to know:

c) A soft and friendly warning or notice:

d) How something feels when touched:

e) To touch quickly and lightly:

f) Discussion between people with different opinions on something:

g) A soft food that goes on toast or crackers:

h) An adverb that means a little amount

i) Made in large amounts in a factory

j) To become comfortable with something or for something to start to feel normal

k) Strong and noticeable

l) What something tastes like

Task 1 Comprehension Question Answers:

a) Are Vegemite and Marmite from the same place?
No. Vegemite is from Australia. Marmite was originally from England, but New Zealand has its own version, so the one you see in New Zealand is from New Zealand.

b) Do Marmite and Vegemite taste the same?
They do not taste the same. Marmite is a bit sweeter and Vegemite is a bit saltier.

c) What are the two debates that New Zealanders have about yeast spreads?
One debate is on how much Marmite is the correct amount to put on your toast, and the other debate is on which is better out of New Zealand Marmite and Australian Vegemite.

Task 3 Vocabulary Answers:

a) A small fungus that helps bread rise and is used to make beer: Yeast

b) Wanting to know: Wondering

c) A soft and friendly warning or notice: A heads up

d) How something feels when touched: Texture

e) To touch quickly and lightly: To dab*

f) Discussion between people with different opinions on something: Debate

g) A soft food that goes on toast or cracker: Spread

h) An adverb that means 'a little amount': Slightly

i) Made in large amounts in a factory: Manufactured

j) To become comfortable with something or for something to start to feel normal: To get used to

k) Strong and noticeable: Bold

l) What something tastes like: Flavour

Note: *Dab (verb) – to touch lightly.
Dab on (phrasal verb) – to put a little amount of something onto something else, lightly.

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