Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract is a special liquid made by soaking vanilla pods in a mix of ethanol and water. It is used in many favorite Western desserts, such as cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, custards, ice creams, and puddings. The main flavor comes from a compound called vanillin, but pure vanilla extract has many other flavor compounds that give it a rich taste. This is different from artificial vanilla flavor, which usually only contains man-made vanillin.

Today, vanilla extract is the most common form of vanilla used. The main types of vanilla beans come from Malagasy, Mexican, Tahitian, Indonesian, and Ugandan sources. A special term, "Bourbon vanilla," refers to vanilla beans from the Bourbon Islands, mainly Madagascar but also Mauritius and Réunion. This name comes from the time when Réunion was ruled by the Bourbon kings of France and has nothing to do with Bourbon whiskey.

Legal definitions

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that "pure" vanilla extract must have at least 35% alcohol and 100g of vanilla beans in every litre of liquid. Stronger versions exist but are mostly used in factories.

In Canada, vanilla extract must be made from certain types of vanilla beans. For every 100 ml of extract, a specific amount of vanilla beans is needed, based on how much water the beans have. The extract cannot have extra colour added to it. Natural vanilla flavoring comes from vanilla beans, and vanilla extract is made by mixing these beans with water and alcohol. It may also include ingredients like glycerine, propylene glycol, sugar, dextrose, or corn syrup.

Companies that manufacture vanilla extract

Many companies make vanilla extract. People use it in sweet foods like cakes, cookies, and ice cream. Some well-known companies that make vanilla extract are Adams Extract, C.F. Sauer Company, Dr. Oetker, Frontier Natural Products, Madécasse, McCormick & Company, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Penzeys Spices, Spice Islands (brand), and Watkins Incorporated. These companies work with vanilla pods to give us the tasty flavor we enjoy in desserts.