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13 July 2010

Vegemite & Marmite: Where or how can I get them in the US?→[More:]

What it says on the tin. I want to try Vegemite and/or Marmite, but as far as I know the local grocery store doesn't carry either.

post by: CitrusFreak12 at: 14:56 | 28 comments

I've seen both at the local big-box grocery stores--Safeway, Giant, etc. Check on the baking aisle.

posted by mrmoonpie 13 July | 15:00

Hell, I'll mail you a bottle if you want.

posted by mrmoonpie 13 July | 15:01

I've seen them at candy stores (not sure why, really) as well as box stores. If you have a nicer supermarket nearby, check their international aisle.

You can also get them online.

posted by punchtothehead 13 July | 15:02

Cardullo's

British Imports

The latter sells nifty meat pies, mmmm.

posted by Melismata 13 July | 15:24

A word of warning -- if you want to like it, use it VERY sparingly. It's got a really strong flavor (which I like), but a little goes a very, very long way. Don't spread it on a piece of bread like peanut butter or jam and expect to enjoy it. You want a very thin spread (at least at first).

I can also find it in almost all my local grocery stores, usually in the international foods aisle.

Peanut butter and marmite is good, by the way. Just don't admit to liking it. People think it's weird.

posted by mudpuppie 13 July | 16:28

I bought a jar of Marmite a long while back. I haven't yet been brave enough to try it.

posted by deborah 13 July | 17:16

Seconding pups. I grew up on the stuff and love it, and I don't know anyone who spreads it on thick like peanut butter. I recommend very buttery toast and sparing application.

posted by gaspode 13 July | 17:25

for mailorder bulk el cheapo goodness: amazon.com

for instant gratification: I've found that any Safeway, Kroger and/or Whole Foods carries it.

no it's probably not CALLED Kroger in your region but that's the parent company and the generic branded stuff is all "Kroger Brand" this-and-that. the mister and I go back and forth on this re: King Soopers on the Front Range...

*ahem* see also: Bragg's Liquid Aminos. Shake onto rice and/or noodles like soy sauce. Add a dash to homemade salad dressings for a delightful umami kick.

IIRC all of these products are variations on the theme "malted brewer's yeast" but I'm too lazy right now to JFGI.

nthing pups and gaspode. A lil' dab'll do ya.

posted by lonefrontranger 13 July | 17:36

What gaspode said - toast with lots of butter (spread while toast is still hot, of course) and a thin smear of vegemite/marmite (they're exactly the same to my palate) and you'll be in heaven.

posted by dg 13 July | 17:51

I bought mine at the World Market because the Men at Work song Down Under made me want to try some. I can't see eating it on toast, but I do use it to make brown gravy when I don't have pan drippings - recipe here.

posted by youngergirl44 13 July | 18:30

Amazon has vegemite and marmite. So you can just order online.

posted by bearwife 13 July | 18:30

There's a place in NYC that carries Marmite flavored potato chips (which I kind of liked) but I never thought to look for the paste itself. I'll check next chance I get.

posted by jonmc 13 July | 19:07

What gaspode said - toast with lots of butter (spread while toast is still hot, of course) and a thin smear of vegemite/marmite (they're exactly the same to my palate) and you'll be in heaven.

OMG what kind of barbarian are you? They are TOTALLY different. Vegemite is a smooth spread of salty umami deliciousness and marmite is some vaguely savoury runny yucky stuff.

Also with practice you can build up to moving beyond a mere smear, I like the spread it so that I get a bit of a salt burn on my gums.

You should also try it on really fresh white bread with cheese. The lunch for most young Australians growing up.

posted by gomichild 13 July | 20:34

Thanks for the tips guys! I think I'm gonna go check my local stop and shop, and if not, then whole foods sometime tomorrow.

I'm excited to try it because I'm always, always on a salt kick. I sometimes drink soy sauce. Today I started eating a bit of the Better Than Bouillon paste/spread stuff... and so I thought "that's it, I need to try the real thing."

Will report back when or if I find anything.

posted by CitrusFreak12 13 July | 21:02

Well the Stop and Shop two minutes from my house didn't have it and had no idea what I was talking about.
Tomorrow: Whole Foods!

posted by CitrusFreak12 13 July | 22:12

I did, however, buy some anchovies & capers, and a bit of soupie.
Mmmm....

posted by CitrusFreak12 13 July | 22:14

Mmmm anchovies.

posted by gomichild 13 July | 22:25

OMG what kind of barbarian are you? They are TOTALLY different. Vegemite is a smooth spread of salty umami deliciousness and marmite is some vaguely savoury runny yucky stuff.

Yeah, all kinds of barbarian, I know. Also a philistine at times. They taste near enough the same to me, is all. Yes, I have a very unsophisticated palate.

posted by dg 13 July | 22:33

Vegemite is a smooth spread of salty umami deliciousness and marmite is some vaguely savoury runny yucky stuff.

Runny? Marmite can hardly be classified as runny! It's been a while since I've had any in my pantry, but I recall that if you were to turn the jar over, the stuff wouldn't move.

posted by mudpuppie 14 July | 10:45

On a salt kick? Try Dutch licorice. Salty as hell, but (usually) with no actual sodium.

posted by mrmoonpie 14 July | 10:45

You're the second person to recommend it to me, mrmoonpie, maybe I'll try it out.

I got back from whole foods. No marmite or vegemite!!

I guess now I'll turn to the internet... bah.

posted by CitrusFreak12 14 July | 18:30

Just bought some Marmite yesterday at Shaws, which has lots of right-coast USian locations. Hannaford used to have it, but not lately. Amazon stores all seemed to charge a ton to ship it. Toast+peanut butter+Marmite = mmmmmm.

posted by theora55 14 July | 19:35

Vegemite and cheese on toast is the hangover breakfast of champions.

CitrusFreak - is there a Harris Teeter or Wegmans in your vicinity? The ones around here have decent international sections, and I'm sure I've seen Marmite stocked.

posted by EvaDestruction 14 July | 19:38

CF, if you like I can buy some and mail it to you. Let me know.

posted by gaspode 14 July | 19:39

Just bought some Marmite yesterday at Shaws, which has lots of right-coast USian locations.
Ok! I'll give that one a shot too. But I think the problem may be my location. It may just not be a viable product to stock here, that's basically what they told me at Whole Foods. There's also another local market I'm going to check, I suppose, before I check the net.

is there a Harris Teeter or Wegmans in your vicinity?
Not that I know of.

CF, if you like I can buy some and mail it to you. Let me know.
You are very nice! I'll leave that as a last resort, and I'd prefer to pay you back somehow. We'll see how it all plays out at the local markets, though.

posted by CitrusFreak12 14 July | 20:16

I have been trying to track down one or the other locally myself, but the shipping is outrageous for one little jar.

If you like salt, I can highly recommend fish sauce, black bean sauce, and any flavor of Better Than Bouillon, on the tip of a spoon straight from the bottle. (Don't tell my doctors; I don't do it often.)

posted by Ardiril 14 July | 22:09

and any flavor of Better Than Bouillon, on the tip of a spoon straight from the bottle. (Don't tell my doctors; I don't do it often.)

I was doing that the day I made this post. It is delicious. That's why I'm tracking this stuff down, I need a more socially acceptable, and perhaps slightly healthier, way to get my salt fix.

posted by CitrusFreak12 14 July | 23:35

perhaps slightly healthier

Forget that, heheh, sodium is sodium. It can't wait to go free radical.

posted by Ardiril 15 July | 00:18

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