In an unearthed episode of Food Unwrapped on Channel 4, presenter Kate Quilton visited a factory in Staffordshire to see how Marmite and other yeast extracts are made.
In the streets, several members of the public tried to guess what the pot was made of. One suggested, “Really reduced beef broth,” while another wondered if “mold and salt” got into the yeast product.
Sinjin Skelton, a quality specialist at the factory, showed Kate the whole process and revealed the ingredients.
He said: “When breweries make beer, they take a sugar solution, and they add yeast to it, and the yeast turns the sugar into alcohol.
“Yeast cells multiply as they produce alcohol, and as a result, breweries end up with seven times as much yeast as they started out with, which is then sold to make extract. yeast.”
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Kate remarked, “That explains the smell – it smells like beer!”
“When it arrives from the breweries, it’s pumped into large vats called coppers,” she told viewers.
Sinjin added, “What happens in there is that we adjust the temperature so that the yeast starts to break down.
“The coppers are heated to 95 degrees, which kills live yeast and breaks down cell walls.
“The yeast soup is then separated into two liquids – the broken down cell walls and the cell interiors.”
Kate held up a bottle of liquid and remarked, “You’ve gutted every yeast cell and that’s what yeast extract is.”
But to make it into a spread, the liquid is heated and boiled, resulting in a concentrated yeast extract.
Kate tasted the product after boiling it and said it “tastes a little like it’s missing a little something”. Sinjin replied, “We add secret ingredients.”
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The presenter wanted to see the inside of the large container but was not allowed, however she commented on the color: “It’s very red!”
According to Marmite’s label, it contains barley, salt, vegetable juice, concentrate, and celery.
“Anyway,” Kate remarked. “It’s mixed with yeast extract and fills 25 million jars a year.”
Marmite fans took to social media to comment on the product’s process.
“Oh my God I can’t eat this anymore. But my childhood! One wrote.
“So basically it’s dehydrated yeast tripe mixed with vegetable broth,” another commented.
A third wrote: “Toast, pot and beer. A delicious way to start the day.
Marmite has expanded its range with crispy peanut butter, truffle and chilli.
Post source: Express