It's been quite a while since I last had some Marmite, but I don't recall particularly liking it. Maybe it is time to try again. Isn't there a similar product called 'Vegemite' which is slightly less strong in taste? I remember an australian flatmate praising it over Marmite. Is Marmite animal-based?!

I think that Marmite is the English equivalent of Natto in Japan - love it or hate it, which used to be the theme of their ads. When Kurata-san tried it at our Prezel Party, all he could say was "Poison!"

I never tried Vegemite by KRAFT. Marmite is 3 times more expensive than Vegemite in Japan, so I can imagine that Vegemite is milder?! Marmite is 100% vege and Bovril is the beefy one. I haven't tried Bov either.

Carsten, is natto poison?! I LOVE natto too. I know it stinks like hell but cheese smells bad too. But they are delicious! I'm glad we both LOVE marmite, otherwise I have to hide myself to eat it like I do for natto...

Vegemite is by KRAFT?! I didn't know that. Natto... I've seen Tamami's mum eating it at the far end of the table, but myself, I have given it a miss so far. After all those more or less 'nasty' comparisons, I cannot quite see myself trying it. But you never know.

Yes, in our house, my mum would have to eat it at the far end of the table. The rest of the family absolutely Hated it (with capital H) since I can remember. But the other day I found out that she managed to convert my brother in to liking it! I gotta feeling that maybe these 'tastes' develop as you get older, y'know, like wasabi... (BTW, I'm a non-marmite-eater)

Carsten never allows me to eat natto in front of him! He even hate if I store natto IN A BOX (for my lunch) in a fridge! No chance to convert him. Respect! mum! I know our taste sense changes a lot, but wasabi' case is a bit different innit? We all hated wasabi at our young age but gradually naturally we came to like it. Maybe natto is not that easy!

なっとは、ほんとにまずいです！　Natto smells and looks like poison. And it tastes like poison, I tried it! Even the packaging looks dangerous: individual portions in airtight boxes. The makers are basically admitting that it's dangerous! Maybe I should talk to your mom, Tamami?

なっとう、だよ！ not なっと！

Love it or hate it...

Bovril!! I have never tried Bovril but it sounds disgusting!! Do not try it. I think Bovril is a poor person's marmite. It is devil's food. YOu know people used to make hot drinks out of Bovril? like a hot cup of beef stock... by the way, I am very very impressed with Carsten's Japanese!!

I heard that people (fans I guess) drinks the hot Bovril at halftime of sports match. I'm not sure if they were poor though. I imagined drinking Bovril tea is just like drinking instant Cup Noodle' soup. I mean Pot Noodle' soup! Well, I haven't tried the british one yet though.

Wow this is quite a heated discussion! Well, I'm very happy to say that recently my sister sent me two HUGE, HEAVY pots of marmite over to Japan (one of my typical and desparate requests if there's anything I need sent over from England). Each jar 'contains approx 125 servings' (apparantly), which should keep me going for nearly one years worth of breakfasts! ii ne! No other Vegemite, Bovril, Marmite immitators can subtitute. My Mum is convinced that the unique Marmite pot shape is designed to drop easily! Many a pot of marmite has been cleaned off our kitchen floor - and its not the easiest thing to clean up! Oh, and on the subject of Natto ... well, after my husband Henry's very graphic description of eating natto for the first time I haven't felt very inclined to try it. Have eaten a little in sushi - was ok as the taste and texture was nicely disguised by the rice!

No No No! You can't eat natto @ sushi place! Actually natto doesn't smell much when it's still cold (just taken from a fridge) but it does smell awful with room temperature especially in a summer time. But the best way of eating natto is with just cooked hot rice! I recommend you to eat a bit cold natto with hot rice. When you clear this stage you can try natto sushi.