# yeast extract **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837 "2001-06-06T19:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![willrolt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@willrolt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willrolt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/1 "2001-06-06T19:58:00Z")
Could anyone tell me what yeast extract (aka Marmite / vegemite) is. What is extracted from yeast, and how? I have tried to make something similar from used brewing yeast but with no success. Just wondering… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/2 "2001-06-07T00:24:26Z")
The master speaks. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940218b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940218b.html) Unfortunately his answer doesn’t really answer your question. I’d like to know too, I love the stuff, and special order it over the net, but it lacks the usual US listings of grams of fat, carbs and protein, so I don’t know what’s in it either. So don’t thank me, I’m just jumping on your bandwagon. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/3 "2001-06-07T04:09:43Z")
I’ve been to a Marmite factory (mandatory school trip ofr Antipodean kids) and I doubt it is even remotely feasible to make at home. I’ve never heard of a homemade recipe and if there was one I’m damned sure it would be in the trusty Edmonds cookbook. Out of curiosity I did a websearch and learnt that the Vegemite brand is US owned and has been since 1935. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/4 "2001-06-07T10:32:53Z")
I heard that marmite was originally a made as a novel and profitable solution to a waste-disposal problem in the brewing industry; what to do with all that left over yeasty sludge. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/5 "2001-06-07T10:43:31Z")
The UK advertising for Marmite is based around the slogan ‘You either love it or you hate it’ and is very amusing, but seems to be quite on the mark; I’ve never met anyone who felt ambivalent about the stuff. (I love it BTW) ---
**Author:** ![lestrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aca169/32.png) [@lestrange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lestrange)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/6 "2001-06-07T12:43:32Z")
From this site: [http://faqs.jmas.co.jp/FAQs/australian-faq/part6](http://faqs.jmas.co.jp/FAQs/australian-faq/part6) > [@](#): > > When I returned to Australia for a visit in 1985 I telephoned the > folks at Kraft in Pt. Melbourne. Here is the basis of what the man > told me regarding its manufacture: > > First the yeast cells are taken from the breweries. For those of you > into making home made beer you know what I mean. For the others, this > is a very thick tan colored “liquid” smelling like beer but loaded > with spent and still alive yeast cells. This “liquid” it then treated > so the yeast cells undergo “cell lysis” which means the cells burst > open. The liquid is then “washed” (his term) to remove the cell > walls. The internal contents of the cell are then mixed with salt, > dried parsley and spices etc.(whatever that is – I have not been able > to find etc. in Australia nor North America) I guess it is the etc that > gives Vegemite its characteristic flavour! > > Anyways in closing, the man said that it was packaged is small tins (I > have seen 1 oz. cans of it in Australian Army ration packs) and in > various containers up to barrel (45 gal?) size. Does that answer your question? ---
**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 7, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/7 "2001-06-07T13:05:07Z")
Mmmmm! Vegemite! _drool_ I love the stuff. Question: Why is there an expiration date on Vegemite? I don’t think it ever goes bad. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/8 "2001-06-07T14:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > **Question: Why is there an expiration date on Vegemite? I don’t think it ever goes bad.** To trick you into throwing it away and buying a new jar. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/9 "2001-06-07T14:18:17Z")
Mmmmmm… Vegemite. I think most of the Americans who have tried it and decided it’s vile are spreading it on too thickly. It _does_ have a very strong taste - a little goes a long way. Try it on thickly cut, fresh poppyseed loaf - HEAVEN! Vegemite and lettuce sandwiches are good too. Some Aussies like to take a small supply of it when they travel overseas. Great backpacker food actually. I gave a jar of it to a former girlfriend in Hong Kong. I think I nearly caused an international incident. Guess it’s just one of those things that doesn’t cross borders well… Vegemite is bloody good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/10 "2001-06-07T14:42:39Z")
I love it on veggieburgers! Yum! But can anyone tell me the calorie, protein, carbs and fat info? I can’t find it on the web anywhere! ---
**Author:** ![happylittlevegemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@happylittlevegemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happylittlevegemite)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/11 "2001-06-07T14:47:42Z")
mmmmmmmmm vegemite… Vegemite rocks! Beware of cheap imitations. Marmite and Promite just cannot compete. I’m such an addict that I’ve done away with the bread and other ingredients, I just get a blob on a spoon and happily lick away at it… yummo! btw, my standard threat to my american buddies is “Shut up or I’ll tie you up and fill your mouth with vegemite!” For any vegemite virgins out there, I reckon the best way to taste it for the first time is on toast, with lots of butter, and a very thin scraping of vegemite. I reckon it’s overdoing it that puts people off. Of course once you get used to it you can eat it right out of the jar with a spoon like me! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/12 "2001-06-07T15:06:09Z")
I happen to have here a small jar of Vegimite that I got in my local New York specialty market. (Only US$3.49 for a 4 oz jar!) On the back it has the following: > [@](#): > > **Nutrition Facts** Serving Size 1 tsp (5g), Servings: about 23, Amount per serving: Calories 10, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 160 mg (7% DV), Potassium 65 mg (2% DV), Total Carb. less than 1g (0% DV), Protein 2g (0% DV), Calcium (2% DV), Iron (2% DV), Thiamin (35% DV), Riboflavin (45% DV), Niacin (25% DV), Not a significant source of calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, sugars, vitamin A, vitamin C. Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2000 calorie diet. > > INGREDIENTS: YEAST EXTRACT, SALT, MINERALS (POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE), MALT EXTRACT, CARMEL COLOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, THIAMIN, RIBOFLAVIN, NIACIN. > > MANUFACTURED BY: KRAFT FOODS LIMITED, P.O. BOX 1673 N, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA ---
**Author:** ![willrolt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@willrolt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willrolt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/13 "2001-06-07T15:37:50Z")
Thanks for the info. I am able to tell you the nutritional info. for Marmite (made and sold in UK - Can you get it anywhere else?) It appears to be largely similar to vegemite: Per 4g serving - Energy 39kj(9kcal) - Protein 1.7g - Carbohydrate 0.6g of which sugars 0.1g - fat 0.017g - fibre 0.1g - sodium 0.2g - Thiamin 0.23mg (16.6%rda) - Riboflavin 0.28mg (17.5%rda) - Niacin 6.4mg (35.6%rda) - Folic acid 0.1mg (50%rda) - Vitamin B12 0.6 micrograms (60%rda) Typical jar is 125g, contains 31 servings and costs about 1.50 GBP. Not exactly a staple food, good for Vitamin B12 freaks and very nice too. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/14 "2001-06-07T15:59:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by happylittlevegemite \* > **Vegemite rocks! Beware of cheap imitations. Marmite and Promite just cannot compete.** I suspect this is a personal taste thing; We have Vegemite in the UK (I’ve never heard of Promite) but I prefer Marmite meself, it’s a rounder and slightly less salty flavour. I found Vegemite a little harsh on the tongue. Marmite is the leading brand of yeast extract over here by a long way (there are any number of generic supermarket ‘yeast extract’ versions too) The best way to enjoy it (as mentioned above) is with thick butter on toast or something (but let the toast cool so that the butter doesn’t melt) - it goes very well with wholemeal or rye. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/15 "2001-06-07T17:07:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Mmmmm! Vegemite! _drool_ I love the stuff. > > Question: Why is there an expiration date on Vegemite? I don’t think it ever goes bad.\*\* Well, maybe _your_ Vegemite goes bad, but mine doesn’t. There’s no expiration date on the jar in front of me, but there is a “packed on” date of: ```auto 23899 15:43 ``` I may be the only person here who is ambiguous about the stuff. On one hand the first thing that hits you is that salted sludge taste, but the flavor under that and after that are pretty good! ---
**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 8, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/16 "2001-06-08T01:38:41Z")
I’m American, and I like to put it on thick. I _still_ like it! Good tip on the veggieburgers. I’ll have to try that. This morning I had it on an English muffin. It’s also good in breakfast burritos. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/17 "2001-06-08T13:27:05Z")
Thanks for the nutritional info, \*\*Billdo[b/]! Low fat, relatively low carbs, excellent! It’s also pretty good on “chicken in a biscuit” crackers, and matzoh! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeast-extract/67837/18 "2001-06-08T14:02:28Z")
D’oh!