LOVE it or hate it, you've probably been forced to try Marmite at some point.
Marmite is a classic cupboard staple for around half of all Brits, according to data from Ipsos.
But the cost of Marmite has soared over the last couple of years.
The price of a 500g jar averaged £5.85 in July compared to £4.75 this time last year.
And the year before, prices increased by around 11%.
Many supermarkets have now produced cheaper, own-brand versions of yeast extract – the key ingredient in Marmite.
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Yeast extract is made from the same yeast used to make bread and beer, and is typically very savoury and rich.
We decided to put the own-brand jars to the test to see which, if any, rivalled the original. Here's how they fared.
Aldi's Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract (240g)
- £1.89
- 79p per 100g
This one really surprised me as I'm usually a huge fan of all things Aldi – but I wasn't blown away by this flavour.
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It's very strong and tangy, which you'd expect from yeast extract, but this was in a way that almost made me recoil.
While it wasn't unpleasant, I don't think I could eat much more of it in one go.
However, it's difficult to beat on price at just 79p per 100g – 10p cheaper than some of its less tasty rivals.
- TASTE: 6/10
- Price: 9/10
- Overall: 15/20
Asda Yeast Extract (240g)
- £2.10
- 88p per 100g
Asda's jar is definitely on the saltier side with a very savoury flavour.
The texture is also on the thicker side, slightly closer to the Australian condiment Vegemite than regular Marmite.
Overall I thought it was a good balance of flavours and I could happily spread it on a whole slice of toast.
- TASTE: 7/10
- Price: 7/10
- Overall: 14/20
Lidl's Maribel Yeast Extract (240g)
- £1.89
- 79p per 100g
Lidl's yeast extract was the absolute winner for me and tasted closest to the original – if not even nicer.
It's still strong, but carries a slight sweetness to it that most of its rivals have failed to achieve while still packing a savoury punch.
The consistency is nice and smooth without being overly runny – perfect for spreading.
At the end of my test, this was the one I decided to use on my leftover toast and I have no regrets.
It's also almost half the price of a similar-sized jar of Marmite, which costs £3.35 in some supermarkets.
- TASTE: 9/10
- Price: 9/10
- Overall: 18/20
Tesco Yeast Extract (225g)
- £2
- 89p per 100g
To be fair to Tesco, it says on this jar's label that it's "strong and savoury" – and that is very accurate.
It's very rich, with a very punchy, savoury flavour, but this one was a bit too strong for me, with a very lingering aftertaste (and smell).
The consistency is also runnier than some of its counterparts – less like Nutella and more like melted chocolate.
- Taste: 7/10
- Price: 6/10
- Overall: 13/20
Morrisons Yeast Extract (240g)
- £2.25
- 94p per 100g
Also branded up as "rich and savoury", I was expecting not to enjoy this one so much – but I was pleasantly surprised.
It has a nice mild flavour so you could easily eat more of it in one go, and the smell isn't too overwhelming either.
However, if you are looking for a really strong and punchy taste, this probably isn't your best bet.
It's also very let down by the price, which is higher than all its rivals.
- Taste: 7/10
- Price: 5/10
- Overall: 12/20
Sainsbury's Yeast Extract, Reduced Salt (225g)
- £2
- 89p per 100g
Sainsbury's only option is badged up as "reduced salt" – but I actually still thought it tasted saltier than some other brands.
It's also very strong and tangy and wasn't my favourite. I moved on to another brand pretty swiftly.
The consistency is quite thick, initially it looks a bit like Nutella but is more spreadable once you get into it.
- Taste: 6/10
- Price: 5/10
- Overall: 11/20
We also tried supermarkets' own brand Wotsits and found a dupe for half the price that was even better.
We also tested Jaffa cake dupes and found a winner that costs a third less than the real thing.
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You can compare the cost of supermarkets' own-brand items using a comparison site like Trolley.co.uk.
Make sure to look at the price per unit, such as per 100g or per kg, as shops don't always sell the same sized items.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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