For those unfortunate enough not to have come across it, Marmite is a yeast extract with added salt, containing a number of B vitamins; it comes in little brown glass jars.  It's a smooth meaty-flavoured paste, dark brown to black in colour, and one generally spreads it on biscuits or toast, often over butter or margerine.  A classic application would be the "Marmite Soldiers" popular with children; strips of toast with butter and Marmite, which are dipped into the yolk of a soft-boiled egg.  Bovril is similar in taste and packaging, but is a beef extract and therefore unsuitable for vegetarians.  Both make good cold-weather drinks, mixed with boiling water.

Malcolm