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Bovril is Not a Dirty Word Trivia Quiz

Bovril qualifies for both the "food" and the "drink" parts of this category. It's a dark, thick, salty edible paste which has inspired many imitations and a legion of poor jokes. Have good taste? You should score well on this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by NormanW5. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
NormanW5

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
323,143

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
434

Question 1 of 10

1. Scotsman John Lawson Johnston developed Bovril in 1874, but it wasn't known as Bovril until 1886. What was its name in the beginning? Hint

Power Paste

The King's Instant Bovine Broth

Scottish Soldier's Stock

Johnston's Fluid Beef

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. By any name, Bovril is not something most of us would ever have thought of. Why did Johnston think to develop it? Hint

It was a commercial version of what Johnston's grandparents made on their farm

It was a way to fill Napoleon III's military order for 1 million cans of beef when Britain didn't have enough

It was a Scot butcher's way of making an extra penny by using "unusable" parts

The idea--and recipe--was given to the religious Johnston in a dream

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. During the Second Boer War, Bovril's first imitator was developed. Chevril was like Bovril except it was made from what? Hint

Caramelized carrots

Yeast extract

Horse meat

Mutton

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Over the years, Bovril has been enjoyed in many different ways, including three of these four. Which one, while probably enjoyed somewhere, is not a widely accepted preparation? Hint

as a flavoring in porridge

in hot water as a broth

as a flavoring in fondue

spread on toast

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In the 21st century, Bovril's popularity has generated lots of similar products, each with devoted local followings. Which of the following pairs includes a non-existent ringer? Hint

Marmite and Savorex

Oxo and Yeast-X

Vegex and Chicken Bovril

Vegemite and Bonox

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What is used instead of beef in the manufacture of Marmite and Vegemite? Hint

A yeast by-product of beer brewing

By-products from manufacturing soy sauce

Caramelized carrots and a not-sweet form of molasses

Barley gluten and petroleum jelly

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What's different about how Savorex got started? Hint

It was made from mutton extract

An importer repackaged Marmite with its own label for the U. S. market

It was a 4-H fundraising project gone commercial

It was condensed soy sauce exported by Korea

8. In the U.K., Oxo is owned by Premier Foods, but in South Africa the product is owned by Mars. Perhaps that's why their products are different. How is the South African Oxo different from the U.K. version? Hint

In South Africa, the only Oxo product is cubes of dried beef stock

In South Africa, Oxo is a paste of yeast and beef mixed together

In South Africa, sweetened caramelized parsnips replace carrots

In South Africa, all ingredients are strictly organic

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Oxo is all well and good, but who owns Bovril? Hint

Campbell Soup

the Catholic Church

the Johnston family

Unilever

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Now before you run off and eat some Bovril straight from the jar, stop and think: Is it nutritious? Hint

Yes. It has potassium, niacin, and B vitamins 1 and 12

Yes. It is high in an easy-to-use form of protein

No. It has no harmful ingredients, but not much positive value either

No. Maybe it would be if farm-made, but there's too much sugar in the commercial pastes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Scotsman John Lawson Johnston developed Bovril in 1874, but it wasn't known as Bovril until 1886. What was its name in the beginning?

Answer: Johnston's Fluid Beef

Good choice Bovril! I definitely think the product would not sell as well with the original name.

2. By any name, Bovril is not something most of us would ever have thought of. Why did Johnston think to develop it?

Answer: It was a way to fill Napoleon III's military order for 1 million cans of beef when Britain didn't have enough

Depending on your politics, you may say that this was the greatest contribution to mankind Napoleon III made!

3. During the Second Boer War, Bovril's first imitator was developed. Chevril was like Bovril except it was made from what?

Answer: Horse meat

The name Bovril comes from bovine--cow--and vril--an energy liquid from a novel popular at the time. Chevril simply substitutes cheval--horse--for bovine in the first half of the name.

4. Over the years, Bovril has been enjoyed in many different ways, including three of these four. Which one, while probably enjoyed somewhere, is not a widely accepted preparation?

Answer: as a flavoring in fondue

Actually, to my taste cheese and Bovril go quite well together in a variety of recipes, but I've not yet found any family or restaurant that serves a Bovril fondue--although I do know of people enjoying Bovril with Raclette.

(I now expect a flood of notes telling me about working mums raising thousands of siblings on Bovril fondue for breakfast.)

5. In the 21st century, Bovril's popularity has generated lots of similar products, each with devoted local followings. Which of the following pairs includes a non-existent ringer?

Answer: Oxo and Yeast-X

Lots of ways to mix and match these pairs.

By ingredient: Bonox joins the original Bovril as a beef extract. Marmite, Vegemite, Savorex, and Vegex are yeast extract products. Chicken Bovril is an oxymoron (although friends claim it is a tasty oxymoron).

By home country: Bovril and Marmite are British; Vegemite is Australian, and Vegex and Savorex come from the U.S.

Oxo and Bovril now make lots of flavors in lots of countries. However, putting South Africa or sage and thyme in this quiz was just too confusing for me, so the previous sentence is all the information you get from me here.

6. What is used instead of beef in the manufacture of Marmite and Vegemite?

Answer: A yeast by-product of beer brewing

Head to a health-food store and check out "brewer's yeast." It's sold in powdered form as a nutritional supplement. It tastes not at all like Marmite (to me), but if you don't like Marmite you may love it!

If you guessed barley gluten and petroleum jelly, you must really hate Marmite or Vegemite.

7. What's different about how Savorex got started?

Answer: An importer repackaged Marmite with its own label for the U. S. market

Savorex is no longer repackaged Marmite, but is now made from its producer's own recipe. Its niche is as a thinner, easier-to-spread paste.

Answer: In South Africa, Oxo is a paste of yeast and beef mixed together

U.K. quiz takers probably remember Oxo as owned by the Campbell Soup Company. That was true until 2006.

U.S. quiz takers are now are confused again by what this quiz is about. Forget the Mars reference. There is neither nougat nor chocolate in Oxo. We're still talking about beef tea.

9. Oxo is all well and good, but who owns Bovril?

Answer: Unilever

If you chose the Catholic Church, my apologies. Bet you remembered those advertisements identifying the Pope and Bovril as "two infallible powers," didn't you? Those sure were great ads. (You younger folk will just have to take our words for it.)

10. Now before you run off and eat some Bovril straight from the jar, stop and think: Is it nutritious?

Answer: Yes. It has potassium, niacin, and B vitamins 1 and 12

Thank you to the many quiz-takers who have taken the time to write to met about additional Bovril-type products that I had no idea existed. Each one claims health benefits.

The list of new (to me) versions now includes:
Cenovis
Guinness Yeast Extract
iSnack 2.0 (by Vegemite)
Promite

Source: Author NormanW5

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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