# Peanut butter -- a poll for non-Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734 "2005-06-03T15:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/41 "2005-06-04T04:34:41Z")
Yes, I like peanut butter, especially with honey. But it’s Vegemite that goes onto my toast every morning at breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/42 "2005-06-04T04:51:03Z")
Yes I have tried peanut butter but untilthis thread I didn’t know it was a sweet thing. The peanut butter I know is salty. That said, I prefer Marmite. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/43 "2005-06-04T05:08:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m from Spain, have lived in the US for 5 years (now back home). > > I like my peanuts as, well, peanuts. Not mashed peanuts. I like peanuts with chocolate around, but then, if it had chocolate I might consider eating hemlock. > > Don’t recall his name now, but I recall reading an article in Chemical and Engineering News about the gent who created peanut butter. He was black and from the South, which doesn’t mean squat re his mental ability but it does mean he had to work extra for the same results. He had training as a Chemist and applied it to agriculture, realizing that the reason cotton fields lost yield with time was loss of N-based nutrients. He saw that the best way to get nitrogen back into the ground was growing beans and the best one was peanuts (which are more closely related to green beans than to chestnuts or almonds). > Problem was, this led to a huge excess of peanuts, so he came up with new uses for peanuts - among them, peanut butter. > > Wish I could remember his name. If you’re interested, here’s the [Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver) on Carver. There’s also a US [national park](http://www.nps.gov/gwca/) dedicated to him. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/44 "2005-06-04T07:01:47Z")
I love the stuff. On average, we (my dad and me) go through a jar of PB every month - it would be quicker were it not for Nutella! I prefer crunchy, but I’ll take what’s available. The thought of PB&J totally grossed me out when I didn’t know they were talking about jam. When I finally did find out, I gave it a try (strawberry jam), and though it wasn’t as disgusting as I expected, I won’t be mixing those two again. ---
**Author:** ![Pensandfeathers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Pensandfeathers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pensandfeathers)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/45 "2005-06-04T07:51:52Z")
> [@gouda](#): > > I love the stuff. On average, we (my dad and me) go through a jar of PB every month - it would be quicker were it not for Nutella! I prefer crunchy, but I’ll take what’s available. > > The thought of PB&J totally grossed me out when I didn’t know they were talking about jam. When I finally did find out, I gave it a try (strawberry jam), and though it wasn’t as disgusting as I expected, I won’t be mixing those two again. My roommate and I can go through a jar in one week. I love peanut butter (I’m American). I put it on celery, apples, sandwiches, bananas, chocolate, carrots… I like it creamy, can’t stand it crunchy (it was banned from my house growing up, as my dad loves peanut butter but has dentures). I use to be a Skippy girl, but ever since I cut out a lot of sugar from my diet, I can’t stand it. I buy the Safeway brand PB anymore. It is very tasty and not that sweet at all. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/46 "2005-06-04T09:27:35Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > But they aren’t boiled, just ground up :o . In fact at the Whole Foods store they have peanuts in a hopper and you can grind your own peanut butter (cashew or almond butter in another machine) to order. Cashew butter cookies are absolutely awesome. They were the best things I’ve ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/47 "2005-06-04T09:50:44Z")
I don’t like peanuts much, and peanut butter is positively disgusting. Why anyone would want to eat it with jelly is beyond my understanding. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/48 "2005-06-04T12:59:31Z")
Now that my kids are gone the peanut butter is only rarely brought out, but we both like it, just not all that often. Not as much as Elvis apparently did anyway. I don’t quite know how the Marmite/Vegemite war has surfaced again but there is only one thing to remember. Marmite =good, Vegemite = evil. See how simple it is? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/49 "2005-06-04T13:24:24Z")
> [@Vetch](#): > > Marmite =good, Vegemite = evil. > See how simple it is? If it’s so simple, then why did you get it backwards? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/50 "2005-06-04T15:11:41Z")
I’m from Canada. I love peanut butter (smooth, please). My 60+ year-old-dad loves it still as well. If I must have it with something else, it’ll be raspberry jam (I prefer home-made, but I’m too lazy to make it often). When I was younger I liked it with cheese - my son still likes it that way. Preferrably Cheese Whiz (the stuff in the jar), when I give in and buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/51 "2005-06-04T19:37:48Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > (you never know when you may become allergic to it) Actually, I know for a fact that having pets around as a child really, REALLY cuts down on pet allergies, and I’m pretty sure early exposure to most other allergens works similarly. I saw on the Discovery channel (before it became the Motorcycle Channel) that the reason babies put everything they see into their mouths is to become exposed to general dirtiness (bacteria, grime, etc.) so that they can build up a resistance to it for the rest of their lives. Baby elephants eat their parents’ faeces for the same reason, BTW. > [@iwakura43](#): > > In fact at the Whole Foods store they have peanuts in a hopper and you can grind your own peanut butter (cashew or almond butter in another machine) to order. I’ve got to try this! ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/52 "2005-06-04T19:42:42Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > To all the non-Americans who don’t like peanut butter – what’s the reason? I used to only eat brands such as Jif, store brands, etc. Now, I grind my own peanut butter in my food processor and the difference is like night and day. The peanut butter is fresh and fluffy, and I can use any nut I like. I must confess, my favorite peanut for grinding is honey roasted peanuts to add sweetness. You could try grinding your own. And growing your own, too. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/53 "2005-06-04T23:44:06Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > But they aren’t boiled, just ground up :o … There is such a thing, unrelated to peanut butter, as “boiled peanuts.” They are what they sound like, although I don’t know the details. I think it’s a southern thing and, like most foods, some likes 'em, some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/54 "2005-06-05T01:42:36Z")
Peanut butter? Ew. I use it as mouse bait (seriously). I’m with **calm kiwi** in preferring marmite. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/55 "2005-06-05T02:04:03Z")
Marmite? Never had it, but I am reminded of a French comic book series called “Asterix”. Anyone? In it, him and his merry bunch would eat ‘la marmite’ and get all strong like Popeye and spinach. Anyways, anytime anyone types ‘Marmite’ that’s all I can think of. What the heck is it? Never tried Vegemite. Seen it in stores and friends of mine who went backpacking in Europe developed a taste for it, but the one time I wanted to try it I got turned off by the smell. Ew! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/56 "2005-06-05T04:58:56Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > Peanut butter? Ew. I use it as mouse bait (seriously). I’m with **calm kiwi** in preferring marmite. In addition to having it in sandwiches, or a spoonful for a quick snack, I also use it as mouse bait. It’s the best thing. So Enn-Zeds like Marmite, and Aussies like Vegemite. Is that the pattern I’m seeing? **Nunavut Boy** : I think I remember that comic from _Heavy Metal_, but I’m not sure. Vegemite and Marmite are similar, except Marmite doesn’t taste as good. Vegemite is a concentrated yeast extract (by-product from beer brewing?). It’s salty-tasting. I find it similar to strong soy sauce – but not quite. It’s unique. As for the smell, I like it. It smells like vitamin B. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/57 "2005-06-05T05:00:58Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > **Nunavut Boy** : I think I remember that comic from _Heavy Metal_, but I’m not sure. No, wait. The one I’m remembering is _Ranxerox_. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/58 "2005-06-05T05:59:53Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > In addition to having it in sandwiches, or a spoonful for a quick snack, I also use it as mouse bait. It’s the best thing. Unless you’re using sticky traps and have a mentally challenged canine companion. Then you wake up to this: _click click click fwap click click click fwap click click click fwap whiiiiine_. And then once you’ve stopped laughing your ass off you get to figure out how to clean glue and peanut butter out of fur. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/59 "2005-06-05T06:30:42Z")
When I was living in Germany, I couldn’t get a single German to even try it. One said it looked like something you might find in a baby’s diaper and ran from the room in disgust. Fast forward to me living in LA and a German woman I knew was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was shocked and said, “what, a German eating peanut butter?” Without missing a beat, she said, “took me 12 years living here before I even tried it.” ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/60 "2005-06-05T06:43:26Z")
> [@Nunavut Boy](#): > > Marmite? Never had it, but I am reminded of a French comic book series called “Asterix”. Anyone? In it, him and his merry bunch would eat ‘la marmite’ and get all strong like Popeye and spinach. Anyways, anytime anyone types ‘Marmite’ that’s all I can think of. What the heck is it? Wait. Asterix’s magic potion (they drink it, not eat it) is called “la marmite” in French? Off to babelfish… “the pot”? Are you sure they didn’t drink _from_ “la marmite”? > [@medstar](#): > > To all the non-Americans who don’t like peanut butter – what’s the reason? It’s disgusting? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734.md?page=4)