# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/61 "2005-06-05T07:07:37Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Wait. Asterix’s magic potion (they drink it, not eat it) is called “la marmite” in French? Off to babelfish… “the pot”? It’s called “la potion magique” in the comic (no need to translate, I assume). “La marmite” is indeed the container, which is often refered to, especially since Obelix fell in it when he was little… Concerning the OP : I’m not disgusted by peanuts butter, but I don’t really like it, either. And since it’s difficult to find over here, I’m not going out of my way to find it. Something that I greatly enjoy and is unfortunately equally dificult to find is the british lemon curd… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/62 "2005-06-05T07:14:11Z")
I saw Jif brand peanut butter for sale in the grocery stores in Paris. ---
**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, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/63 "2005-06-05T07:34:40Z")
> [@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. > > So Enn-Zeds like Marmite, and Aussies like Vegemite. Is that the pattern I’m seeing? > \ > 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. And [marmite](http://www.englishteastore.com/marmite44oz.html) is a yeast extract, containing salt and other various extracts, and has been described as “salty beer yeast crap”. I think the marmite vs. vegemite thing is rather like the Coke vs. Pepsi thing. Very little difference, 'cept the brand. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/64 "2005-06-05T14:47:05Z")
German here. Peanut butter is available in all supermarkets that I have ever looked for it in (albeit named _Erdnusscreme_ i.e. peanut cream/spread, because consumer protection regulations say only dairy products may have “butter” in their name). BTW the packaging is usually American-themed, with a stars-and-stripes background or such. I eat peanut butter on bread very occasionally, because a) the sticky texture and slightly astringent aftertaste make it an interesting but not unreservedly enjoyable eating experience. It certainly isn’t comfort food to me. (curiously enough I crave satay sauce and would wallow in it given the opportunity 🙂 ) b) I know how much I must exercise to burn these calories again. Also the mental association with baby poo probably is much less likely for people who got conditioned to peanut butter as children. I concur with **Alan Smithee** in that it’s a taste more likely to be acquired as a kid than as an adult. BTW a question: is peanut butter canonically spread _on_ or _instead of_ butter? ---
**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, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/65 "2005-06-05T15:00:28Z")
Whoops! FROM “la marmite”. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/66 "2005-06-05T15:30:22Z")
Peanut butter _instead of_ butter! And a dark jam on top–grape is most common. I use Bonne Maman blackberry jam on top of Smucker’s natural peanut butter (only peanuts and salt). This on wheat toast is my breakfast every morning. Maybe some of you have problems with peanut butter and jelly because you’re using the wrong jelly. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/67 "2005-06-05T15:37:52Z")
aaah, peanut butter. My mother who was a teacher in Indonesia in the late 40s, developed a recipe here in Canada to regain some joy she experienced from Indonesian cooking while somewhat strapped by poverty in the 50s. Simply, she dumped hamburger into a hot pot stirring and frying, until the meat was cooked followed by a tin of diced tomatoes, diced onions and and a big dollop of PEANUT BUTTER which was stirred in until it disappeared. It was then served with rice which we kids mixed up and ate. It was and is my favourite meal. It is still served in the homes of all my seven brothers and sisters. ---
**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, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/68 "2005-06-05T15:39:44Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Peanut butter _instead of_ butter! And a dark jam on top–grape is most common… > > Maybe some of you have problems with peanut butter and jelly because you’re using the wrong jelly. Yes. No butter (or margarine) on PBJs. But I do put butter on toasted English muffins when I put peanut butter on them. Without, they’re a bit too sticky for me and the butter helps lubricate it. Grape jelly is traditional, but many people like strawberry jam or raspberry jam instead. But I’ve also use orange marmalade. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/69 "2005-06-05T16:37:14Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > I have never tried it and doubt I ever will, the whole idea seems odd to me, mushed up peanuts in bread? I don’t think so, not this soldier, no sir. This thread reminds me of something I saw once in a program featuring interviews with Holocaust survivors (there are a lot of these now, given that the generation that lived through it first-hand is nearing their collective maturity date). The man in question was a child of about 8 when the war ended, and he was put in an American-administrated refugee camp in France for children with no known/found parents. Their food consisted mainly of some kind of horrible military-grade gruel from a vat. Then one day, they were told that a special treat was being flown in for them, something they knew children especially loved, and that to make it extra special, it was going to be kept a surprise. For the first time in a long time, these children had something to look forward to and get excited about. Toys? Pudding? Chocolate? “We felt like normal children again, if only just a little bit…” Well you know where this is headed to based on the thread. A few days later several GIs pulled in large drums of PEANUT BUTTER. The proud and expectant Americans were then horrified when it became clear that these children of wartime Europe simply did not know what this stuff was or what to do with it. They smeared it around like paint, tried to mold it like clay, and threw it around at each other. When the GIs showed them that this was, in fact, meant as a food, they could not believe it. Soon the Americans had a riot on their hands. So there you have it: one of the tales of childhood trauma set on the record by a Holocaust survivor involves being given peanut butter by American GIs. A more ringing indictment is hard to imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/70 "2005-06-05T16:51:54Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > A more ringing indictment is hard to imagine. of the French psyche ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/71 "2005-06-06T00:56:07Z")
> [@tschild](#): > > BTW a question: is peanut butter canonically spread _on_ or _instead of_ butter? Usually instead of, but not always. In the Midwest where I grew up, it was usual to butter the bread before applying PB, giving you lumps of cold butter in you sandwich. I never cared for that, but I do enjoy PB over melted butter toast. I heard once that Germans call Americans “peanut butter eaters,” which I guess partially makes up for our calling you “Krauts” for so long. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/72 "2005-06-06T02:39:04Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > I heard once that Germans call Americans “peanut butter eaters,” which I guess partially makes up for our calling you “Krauts” for so long. :rolleyes: isn’t it a play on “butter-eaters”? And isn’t that what the Romans called the Germans? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/73 "2005-06-06T07:39:06Z")
> [@](#): > > it was usual to butter the bread before applying PB, giving you lumps of cold butter in you sandwich. I never cared for that, but I do enjoy PB over melted butter toast. European I may be but I’m with you on that one **Beware of Doug**. I had peanut butter sarnie (sandwiches) every day of secondary school. A treat would be with nutella or other chocolate spread but I can’t understand the mix with jam / jelly you do over the pond. For me it has to be crunchy none of that smooth stuff :rolleyes: . I remember seeing cahew nut butter once in the UK many years ago - scrummy yummy but boy did you pay for the privilege ! [hijack] THe marmite debate is actually used as a marketing ploy by the company in the UK - just look at [this page](http://www.marmite.com/) (closest I could get to the right colour !). One commercial had a couple returning to the girl’s flat for ‘coffee’ after a night out … there’s obvious chemistry … he knows he’s gonna get lucky and then she gets back from the kitchen and starts kissing him … he splutters pushes her off and flees the flat ! You see she’d had a bit of martmite when she was in the kitchen 😃 [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/74 "2005-06-06T07:51:03Z")
Forgot to say that **Ponster** and I recently tried Elvis’ fried peanut butter and banana sandwhiches as per the recipe on a postcard from Graceland …bleurch :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/75 "2005-06-06T08:50:09Z")
I grew up in Australia with Vegemite, Marmite and peanut butter, although back then it was called peanut paste; now I’m showing my age. I’ve always preferred the smooth variety and these days buy the type without added salt and sugar. In my experience it was one product you could be certain was in everybody’s kitchen. It seems I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/76 "2005-06-06T10:57:41Z")
Always had peanut butter (it became paste later) and vegemite in the fridge. Love them both. 🆒 ---
**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 6, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/77 "2005-06-06T11:24:01Z")
> [@Cat Jones](#): > > [hijack] THe marmite debate is actually used as a marketing ploy by the company in the UK - just look at [this page](http://www.marmite.com/) (closest I could get to the right colour !). One commercial had a couple returning to the girl’s flat for ‘coffee’ after a night out … there’s obvious chemistry … he knows he’s gonna get lucky and then she gets back from the kitchen and starts kissing him … he splutters pushes her off and flees the flat ! You see she’d had a bit of martmite when she was in the kitchen 😃 [/hijack] UK Marmite and Kiwi Marmite taste very different. Now to offend many (drumroll…) Pommy Marmite and Aussie Vegemite are comparble. Ask any Pom who has been to NZ. Sweet peanutbutter sounds foul, the salty version is tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/78 "2005-06-06T12:08:08Z")
I’m Australian and I love peanut butter. I eat it on toast, in sandwiches on its own or with banana, and in recipes such as for satay sauce and stirfry. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/79 "2005-06-06T12:15:27Z")
Hey, all you peanut-butter-haters! How do you feel about _hummus_? That’s basically spiced chickpea-butter. Or _Nutella_? – that’s chocolate-enhanced hazelnut butter. There’s also cashew butter (although that’s comparatively rare – I don’t see it in supermarkets). I don’t know why you don’e see walnut butter ptr pistashio butter or other spreads made from ground-up nuts. But in a world where people mince up the liver of a goose that’s been force-fed fatty food, peanut butter is far from a grotesque food preparation, and I have to wonder about the animosity towards it. “Astringent after-taste”? _Where_ are you getting your peanut butter from? I always had the impression that one reason kids liked peanut butter was that it was a relatively benign and bland product (with a bit of added sugar), a la ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![hathaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@hathaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hathaway)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734/80 "2005-06-06T23:49:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “Astringent after-taste”? _Where_ are you getting your peanut butter from? LOL. Seriously, I was wondering the same thing… I have grown up eating peanut butter and in almost 30 years, never has it left an astringent aftertaste. I’m trying to imagine what ingredient could possibly be added to it in order to result in that aftertaste. Not that I doubt anybody… just that I’ve never experienced it myself. I think a lot of foods in America are just plain sweeter, even peanut butter, and if you aren’t used to that and trying a new food in America, you might be put off. I am Canadian, and between my friends from the UK and my friends from USA, I find that there does seem to be a difference in preference for sweetness. (And I seem to fall in the middle.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-butter-a-poll-for-non-americans/306734.md?page=5)