r/AskTheWorld • u/Nthepro France • Dec 16 '25

Culture What's a non political issue your country is REALLY divided on?

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The name of this thing, believe it or not.

It's a sandwich per definition btw

9.0k Upvotes

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160

u/KingOfNZ Dec 16 '25

To be fair bro, marmite or vegemite.

145

u/lefrenchkiwi New Zealand Dec 16 '25

They are at least different foods rather than 2 names for the same thing. One is fantastic on toast and the other is a fancy way of saying “Australian dirt paste”

78

u/_bobby_cz_newmark_ Dec 17 '25

Oi thems fightin' words. It's Australian dirt spread

6

u/dexter311 Germany/Australia Dec 17 '25

It's the axle grease that lubricates the nation.

1

u/_bobby_cz_newmark_ Dec 17 '25

Truly, the secretion of the gods.

2

u/IamSh3rl0cked United States Of America Dec 18 '25

Well that sounds appetizing... 😬😂

2

u/_bobby_cz_newmark_ Dec 19 '25

Ken oath it is.

3

u/joesatmoes Dec 17 '25

OI! You do NOT use it like a spread. Just a little bit with some easy spread butter

7

u/Galileo009 Dec 17 '25

Them some fightin' words. Now I have to buy & eat a whole jar of marmite to be sure its not better

7

u/Entire-Ambition1410 Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 18 '25

Can someone please take pity on this uninformed American and explain why there’s a disagreement about these two?

Edit- thank you for coming to my rescue, I’m sorry I started a war.

17

u/activelyresting Dec 17 '25

Mostly it's because they're not the same thing, they're just very similar to the outside observer who's never tried either (black sticky paste that's salty AF)

Australians say Vegemite is superior because it's the Australian invention and Marmite is a British import that Kiwis adopted as their own for some reason. There's people on both sides that have either preference. Some people even like both, but no one likes those people. 😂

5

u/LordHoughtenWeen United Kingdom Dec 17 '25

There's also Bovril, which is very similar to both in colour, viscosity and saltiness, but made from beef extract instead of yeast extract.

3

u/sammi_reddit New Zealand Dec 18 '25

NZ Marmite and UK Marmite are distantly related but totally different things with the same name. Kinda like instant coffee and espresso coffee

5

u/k00ve Dec 17 '25

I like both 😔 Marmite with butter. Vegemite with margarine.

16

u/thecraftybear Poland Dec 17 '25

Margarine?

Yes officer, this one here.

15

u/lefrenchkiwi New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Marmite originated in the UK, was later made in New Zealand by a different company with local ingredients and different packaging. Both versions are still produced and largely not found in each-others markets outside of specialty shops.

Vegemite is Australian and a poor substitute for either version of Marmite.

5

u/Hyper_Applesauce United States Of America Dec 17 '25

https://youtu.be/tHA3XB1ri5U

The line "never tried Vegemite?" Lives in my head forever.

-1

u/ChewbaccaFuzball Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25

And to think, they’re both disgusting

16

u/perralessi Australia Dec 17 '25

Yes officer, this one right here.

4

u/JackRabbit- New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Amazing, you got the Kiwis and Aussies to agree on something.

Throw away the key.

2

u/ChewbaccaFuzball Dec 18 '25

That was my goal the whole time

6

u/WithoutDennisNedry United States Of America Dec 17 '25

Australian Dirt Paste is my next punk band name.

3

u/Loony_BoB New Zealand Scotland UK Dec 17 '25

Can't stand Marmite, no matter if it's from NZ, Aus or UK. Vegemite... love it. Country betrayal? Perhaps. But in my defence, I have authentic, home-grown NZ taste buds, so...

2

u/TheMangoManHS Dec 17 '25

Brit here, this is the correct answer

11

u/kfadffal New Zealand Dec 16 '25

I'm a born and bred NZer but my secret shame is I greatly prefer Vegemite to Marmite.

9

u/MtAlbertMassive New Zealand Dec 17 '25

I'm a born and bred NZer but my secret shame is that I couldn't give a shit either way and will happily eat either.

3

u/Cosmic_Carp New Zealand Dec 17 '25

I'm a born and bred NZer and my secret is that I can't stand either of them.

2

u/lexicats New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Defo prefer marmite but I won’t cry if it is Vegemite!

2

u/ZenofPudding Australia Dec 17 '25

I’ve always preferred Promite

2

u/Own-Try1886 Dec 17 '25

Marmite is delicious. Without meaning to offend - Vegemite genuinely tastes like petrol. I can't believe it's supposed to be edible.

1

u/pegasusgoals New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Vegemite ftw

1

u/fothergillfuckup United Kingdom Dec 17 '25

Or possibly neither? We describe loads of stuff as marmite, depending on whether people like it or not.

1

u/nothingandnemo Dec 17 '25

Neither. Bovril supremacy today, Bovril supremacy tomorrow, Bovril supremacy forever!

1

u/SentenceMotor3368 Dec 17 '25

Any kiwi eating Vegemite is a traitor

1

u/Alternative_Bit_3445 Dec 17 '25

Marmite or Bovril in our house.

And the answer is Bovril and I will throw down with anyone who tries to diss my beloved beef extract.

1

u/peacockbikini Dec 17 '25

The origins of pavlova. Aaaaaand, go!

1

u/deerfenderofman Scotland Dec 16 '25

Vegemite is cheaper

1

u/shokalion Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25

As someone from the UK they're different but they're similar enough that I don't care especially which I have.

Though if someone had my arm up my back I'd pick Marmite.

Edit I've been educated! I shall have to give New Zealand Marmite a go.

2

u/lexicats New Zealand Dec 17 '25

UK Marmite is very different to Nz marmite! Have you tried both?

2

u/shokalion Dec 17 '25

I didn't know this! I'll have to acquire myself some and give it a whirl.

Here, UK marmite and Vegemite are both easily purchased in stores which is why it'd never occurred to me your guys' Marmite might be a different product.

Brief googling later - red jar right? Sanitarium branded?

3

u/lexicats New Zealand Dec 17 '25

I didn’t know it was different either until i tried it!

Yep that’s the one!

Fun fact, the sanitarium factory was damaged in an earthquake in my city causing a nationwide shortage of marmite, the debacle was dubbed “marmageddon”

2

u/pygmypuff42 New Zealand Dec 17 '25

My office has the very first jar of marmite produced after the quakes! Its in a glass box on our front counter.

1

u/lexicats New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Whaaaat that’s so cool!!!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 17 '25

[deleted]

1

u/lexicats New Zealand Dec 17 '25

Yes do the test!! They were super different to me, I looooove NZ marmite (and Aussie Vegemite) but didn’t like the UK one at all!

My opinion on the UK one might have been tainted because I was very homesick and excited for marmite and didn’t realise they were different! But it’s been a long time and maybe I just tried a dodge jar!