<sod> '''Bovril''' is the [[trademark]]ed name of a thick, salty [[beef]] extract, sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar.
 
A [[spoon]]ful of the semi-liquid paste in hot [[water]] makes a beef tea. It can also be used as a flavouring for [[soup]]s and [[stew]]s, or spread on [[bread]], especially [[toast]].
 
The name, like many late [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century]] [[tradename]]s comes (partially) from [[Latin]], ''bos'' meaning "ox." The ''vril'' component of the name comes from [[Edward George Bulwer-Lytton|Bulwer-Lytton]]'s once-popular 19th century "lost race" [[novel]], ''[[The Coming Race]]'', in which a subterranean [[humanoid]] race have mental control over, and devastating powers from  an energy fluid named "[[Vril]]."
 
In November 2004 the manufacturers, [[Unilever]], announced that the composition of Bovril was being changed from beef to a [[yeast extract]], both in the hope of allaying fears of [[bovine spongiform encephalopathy]] and to make the product more attractive to vegetarians.
 
 ==See also==
 *[[Marmite]]
 <eod> <sod>'''Bovril''' is the [[trademark]]ed name of a thick, salty [[yeast]] extract, sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. 
 
A [[spoon]]ful of the semi-liquid paste in hot [[water]] makes a savoury drink. It can also be used as a flavouring for [[soup]]s, [[stew]]s or [[porridge]], or spread on [[bread]], especially [[toast]].
 
The name, like many late [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century]] [[tradename]]s comes (partially) from [[Latin]], ''bos'' meaning "ox." The ''vril'' component of the name comes from [[Edward George Bulwer-Lytton|Bulwer-Lytton]]'s once-popular 19th century "lost race" [[novel]], ''[[The Coming Race]]'', in which a subterranean [[humanoid]] race have mental control over, and devastating powers from an energy fluid named "[[Vril]]."
 
In November 2004 the manufacturers, [[Unilever]], announced that the composition of Bovril was being changed from beef to a [[yeast extract]], both in the hope of allaying fears of [[bovine spongiform encephalopathy]] and to make the product more attractive to vegetarians and muslims.
 
 ==See also==
 *[[Marmite]]
 <eod>