When I decided to post a reply comparing Vegemite and Marmite, I wasn't aware of these ancient rivalry between countries and cultures. It seems that I, completely unintended, started a war. Since I started it, I'm also the one that can end it.
And I will, just bear with me.
OK, I'm from Holland. This means I wasn't raised eating either Marmite or Vegemite. So I'm completely neutral on the subject. And I approach it completely objectively I might add. That having said it seems that I'm the right person to calm things down again.
First
From a purely scientific approach: when I look at the composition of both Vegemite and Marmite, the similarities between the products outnumber the differences hugely. Saying otherwise is just pretending.
Second
Whether you're a Vegemite fan or a Marmite fan, it doesn't matter: you're prejudiced against the other product for no other reason than it's just different from what you're used to. It has nothing to do with quality or if it objectively tastes better or not, it's just different and therefore inferior.
Third
There's something to be said in favor of both Marmite and Vegemite:
@English & Kiwi's: you're right. Marmite is the original and Vegemite just a inferior copy.
@Aussies: between us, we know that the English & Kiwi's like to dream. True, Vegemite is not the original. It's just the perfected product.
Fourth, and most important!!!
I decided to take matters in my own hand and, with an open mind to both products, compared them myself. This was done just last night, so my findings represent the latest insights on the subject. I do have to apoligize to the Germans and the Swiss: your local variants of this product weren't included in this test, due to lack of availability in Holland.
Final test
So, if you guys are ready to face the truth: here is the final 'verdict' about both Vegemite and Marmite (the results are not open to discussion). A little warning in advance: my findings are in accordance with those of Jeff Crawley, although his approach was not as scientific as mine. OK, here we go.
1
Vegemite proved to be very suitable for filling cracks in the wall, whereas Marmite just kept pouring out of the cracks. Furthermore, Vegemite proved to be paintable (downside: more than one layer is required if you prefer a lighter colour).
2
Marmite on the other hand is a perfect lubricant. I used it both in my car and the lawn mower and both are functioning very well again, like brand new! I used Vegemite on the lawn mower of my neighbor and we are still negiotiating about a financial settlement of the damage.
3
According to my wife, Vegemite is perfect for waxing the legs (or other body parts containing unwanted amounts of hair). After allowing it to dry a bit, it removed all hair in one pull, while being less painful than the more expensive products you can buy in a drugstore. But it looses against Marmite when it comes to it's usage as a nailpolish: Marmite proved to be easier to apply and to last longer (with Vegemite starting to crack easily).
Verdict*
So, what can be concluded from the above? It seems pretty obvious, but I'll sum it up for you. Both products seem to have both advantages and disadvantages. Each of them performing very well in their own way. Where in one field one product fails and the other one excels, in another field it's the other way round.
But, what I can undoubtedly conclude is that both Vegematie and Marmite perform very well when applied in the right way and where both can be used in various ways, they seem to be totally unfit for human consumption. They are apparantly not designed for that: they smell terribly, taste like something my dog finds in the bushes, they prove to be very good laxents (I spent most of the night on the toilet), after using both products my wife refused to kiss for a number of hours).
In retrospective: Jeff Crawley has said it all in his reply (which can be found above somewhere).
* The conclusions as presented above are not meant to be offensive in any way.
akinderway.wordpress.com
Thanks!
but thanks for the suggestion. We can get travel tubes of Vegemite at the supermarket in Aus.
