Marmite, you either love it or you hate it. However, I do firmly believe there are many ways you can use marmite which results in enhancing other flavours rather than experiencing the extremely strong flavour of the marmite. Marmite on its own can be a very overwhelming flavour. However, I believe it is definitely underrated as an ingredient in a larger dish. Marmite has a high salt content, especially in comparison to other foods, and can therefore be used in the same way as ingredients such as vegetable stock. Vegetable stock is added to sauces in order to improve the flavour, which in part is due to a high salt content in the veggie stock cubes. Marmite is much the same. Additionally, marmite adds a certain depth of flavour to a dish by giving it a great savoury flavour. It can also be mixed with water and used as a soy sauce surrogate in certain sauces and dishes. References: https://www.mashed.com/197712/what-does-marmite-actually-taste-like/ https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/1753/soy-sauce-substitute

**TL; DR – Marmite is not universally liked mainly due to its pungent taste. As a result, it has gained an unfair reputation over the years also leading to the advertising slogan, “Marmite – Love it or Hate it.” In spite of this, science has proven unbelievable health benefits where Marmite is concerned.** According to the website goodto.com, one of the health benefits that are associated with Marmite include, boosting your brain power. In a 2017 study conducted at York University, researchers tested two different groups. One group ate a teaspoon of Marmite per day while the other group ate a teaspoon of peanut butter per day. It was found that the high concentration of Vitamin B12 in Marmite could help to improve healthy brain function and even potentially protect against neurological disorders. Another health benefit that this same study found was that Marmite is full of vitamins. The extra amount of B12 found in it makes red blood cells and protects the nervous system. It’s also rich in B1, B2 and B3 – helps to convert food into fuel and stabilizes energy levels. In addition to this, it also provides 50% of one’s recommended daily allowance of folic acid (also known as vitamin B9), which helps the body to produce and maintain new cells. This is also another reason why it’s often recommended during pregnancy too. More health benefits of Marmite include that it is low in calories, helps one sleep and apparently even cures hangovers – a key ingredient for a popular hangover remedy in Sri Lanka. And last but not least, the most interesting benefit that Marmite is said to offer is with regards to dementia. The website dailymail.co.uk reported that eating a teaspoon of Marmite a day for a month was found to tone down the brain’s response to visual stimuli by 30 per cent – a sign of a healthy mind that is not hyperactive and overreacting. Consequently, researchers at York University now believe that yeast extract could be used to prevent seizures in epilepsy – following evidence that vitamin B12 plays an important part in memory. This in turn could also prompt further research to see if Marmite and its effect on the brain’s GABA chemical might provide a treatment for dementia. So despite the fact that Marmite was accidentally created as by-product of the beer brewing process, it seems as though the good (health benefits), outweigh the bad (the taste) in this instance. And the fact that it only contains 4 ingredients and is vegetarian approved doesn't hurt either! Sources: 1) Is Marmite good for you? The surprising health benefits of the savoury spread https://www.goodto.com/wellbeing/is-marmite-good-for-you-health-benefits-6834 [accessed February 5, 2021]. 2) How Marmite could help stop dementia https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4380968/How-Marmite-help-stop-dementia.html [accessed February 5, 2021].

TL; DR Marmite is fine and the data agrees Researching the popularity of Marmite makes for disappointing reading. According to a 2011 YouGov poll a third love it; a third hate it and another third...don't have any strong opinions. (1) It also has the dubious honour of ranking 135th on the "most popular food and snack"chart. (2) This may sound more in favour of it being underrated; but it's worth noting that it ranks above Cheesestrings, Actimel and Rowse Honey which are all fairly inoffensive in taste. It is certainly potent but despite this is apparently not as divisive as the adverts have led us to believe. Two thirds of the population have spoken: it is at the very least, alright. 1.https://yougov.co.uk/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2011/09/23/love-it-hate-it-its-official 2.https://yougov.co.uk/ratings/food/popularity/food-snack-brands/all