Marmite (/ˈmɑːrmaɪt/ MAR-myte) is a British savoury food spread based on yeast extract, invented by the German scientist Justus von Liebig.

Marmite is a sticky, dark brown paste with a distinctive, salty, powerful flavour and heady aroma.

Such is its prominence in British popular culture that Marmite is often used as a metaphor for something that is an acquired taste or polarises opinion.

Marmite's distinctive bulbous jars are supplied to Unilever by the German glass manufacturer Gerresheimer.

The product that was to become Marmite was invented during the late 19th century when the German scientist Justus von Liebig discovered that brewer's yeast could be concentrated, bottled and eaten.

[5] During the 1930s, Marmite was used by the English scientist Lucy Wills to successfully treat a form of anaemia in mill workers in Bombay.

The Australian product Vegemite was developed in early 1920s by Cyril Callister for Fred Walker and Co. due to shortages of Marmite exports to Australia as a result of the First World War.

[16] In the United Kingdom, own-branded yeast extract, very similar to Marmite, is sold by Sainsbury's, Tesco and Aldi.

The sodium content of the spread is high and has caused concern, although it is the amount per serving rather than the percentage in bulk Marmite that is relevant.

Marmite is contraindicated if a person takes a monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant, such as phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate), as yeast extracts interact adversely with these types of medications due to their tyramine content.

[citation needed] "I remember sitting in my office looking at the brief and saying to Richard [Flintham], 'I fucking hate Marmite.'

The first major Marmite advertising campaign began during the 1930s, with characters whose faces incorporated the word "good".

During the 1980s, the spread was advertised with the slogan "My mate, Marmite", chanted in television commercials by an army platoon.

By the 1990s Marmite's distinctive and powerful flavour had earned it as many detractors as it had fans, and it was known for producing a polarised "love/hate" reaction amongst consumers.

[37] The CFIA later specified that these specific items had been seized because they were not the versions that are formulated for sale in Canada and which satisfy all Canadian food regulations.

The product had 0.3% champagne added to the recipe, and a modified heart-shaped label with "I love you" in place of the logo.

In 2009, a limited edition Marston's Pedigree Marmite was initiated to celebrate the 2009 Ashes Cricket test series.

[43] In April 2012, a special-edition jar in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was released.

With the product renamed "Ma'amite", the redesigned label featured a colour scheme based upon the Union Jack; the marmite and spoon logo replaced by a gold crown, and with a red rather than yellow cap.

The Marmite Truffle was marketed with a variation of the 'Love it Or Hate It' slogan designed to make it sound more sophisticated: "One either loves it or considers it utterly vulgar".