12/11/2023 0 Comments Vanilla bean paste recipesFood scientists create the chemical in a lab to produce imitation or fake vanilla extract. Synthetic vanillin is a chemical which mimics the flavor of real vanilla without using beans. It’s a favorite spice with bakers for all kinds of baked goods and sweet treats, like cakes, cookies, ice cream and custard. Vanilla extract is the most popular vanilla option for baking since it’s easy to find and use. The alcohol not only extracts flavor from the vanilla beans, but increases the extract’s shelf life. When making homemade vanilla extract, you can use high-proof liquor such as bourbon, vodka or rum. It should not contain any additives like sugar or artificial flavors or colors. According to the FDA, pure vanilla extract must be at least 35% alcohol with a minimum of 100 grams of vanilla beans per liter. To make pure vanilla extract, vanilla beans are soaked in alcohol to extract their flavor and infuse it into the alcohol. Types of Vanilla for Baking Pure Vanilla Extract The prices have started to drop a little since then, but good quality vanilla continues to be expensive. In 2017, the island of Madagascar was ravaged by storms, which devastated their vanilla crop, driving the price up to more than $300 per pound. Not surprisingly, vanilla is the world’s most expensive spice, second only to saffron. The entire labor-intensive process takes a full year from growth to export. Then after harvesting, the beans must be treated and cured. On top of that, the flowers must be hand-pollinated during a short flowering period by experienced farmers. Orchids are finicky plants that are difficult to grow. The price reflects their rarity and the labor involved in growing them. Vanilla extract and vanilla beans are notoriously expensive. The beans will have different flavor profiles depending on their place of origin. Madagascar produces the majority of the world’s vanilla orchids, but other countries such as Mexico, Uganda, Indonesia and Tahita produce vanilla as well. Vanilla beans or pods aren’t even beans, really, but rather the fruit of the orchids. So first, what is vanilla? Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids, of the genus Vanilla. All opinions expressed on this site are my own. This in no way affects my opinion of those products and services. This means that I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using those links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Looking for more posts like this one? Don’t miss how to stack, fill, crumb coat and frost a layer cake, how to make flaky all-butter pie dough, and how to make perfect American buttercream. I have an easy recipe for making your own homemade vanilla extract, but also lots of information on various types of vanilla, where you can buy vanilla beans, and which type of vanilla to use in your baking.
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