![]() ![]() Only products made with vanilla beans, alcohol and water can be called vanilla extract. ![]() The FDA is very specific about what can be called vanilla extract, and what has to be called vanilla flavoring. In years past, it may have been used, but not in today's manufacturing process. However, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group (who thoroughly investigated this), no major vanilla manufacturer in the USA uses this as a source of vanilla flavoring. And it has been approved by the FDA to be safe for use in food. The castor sacs of beavers produces a secretion that does have a vanilla-like essence. So, there's this rumor/myth circulating that a natural, vanilla-like flavoring comes from beaver glands and is used in "natural" vanilla flavoring. When the label says "natural" flavoring on a vanilla product, does this mean natural vanilla? Or something else? In addition, artificial vanilla flavoring often contains coloring, for which the label does not need to specify this coloring's origin (often simply called "caramel coloring"), and sugars. The most common consumer artificial vanilla flavoring contains a form of vanillin, synthesized from a natural polymer found in wood. Vanilla is a costly spice/flavoring, second only to saffron, due to the labor-intensive process of artificially pollinating the blossoms.īecause of this high cost, artificial vanilla flavors are commonly found in many commercially baked goods. Other sources of modern day vanilla still include Mexico, as well as the Tahitian Islands, and the West Indies. Today, with hand pollination, the majority of the world's vanilla beans come from the islands of the Indian Ocean, Bourbon vanilla (from Bourbon Island, not made with bourbon), or Madagascar vanilla (from Madagascar and neighboring islands). Methods of hand pollination were implemented as a way to grow vanilla outside of the Americas. ![]() Originally vanilla production was limited to the Americas, as this orchid had just one natural pollinator, a specific bee. Where does vanilla come from? Why is it soooo expensive? And what is artificial vanilla made of?ĭid you know that vanilla comes from a species of orchid? Vanilla beans or seed pods are the resulting fruit from pollination of this species of orchid. ![]()
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