Vanilla extract enhances flavors in foods, particularly baked goods. There are two kinds of vanilla extract, pure and imitation. While they can be used interchangeably, they are made differently and vary in cost.
Types
Pure vanilla extract comes from vanilla beans, with added water and alcohol, while imitation vanilla contains water, alcohol and a chemically produced vanilla taste.
Origins
Vanilla beans grow in only a few tropical countries worldwide. They are part of an orchid vine and the growing and harvesting is usually done by manual labor. Most of the vanilla beans sold commercially grow in Madagascar and Indonesia. Mexico and Tahiti also produce smaller amounts of vanilla. Each location produces a distinctive vanilla taste.
Considerations
Pure vanilla extract and imitation vanilla extract differ in taste and price. The pure extract offers a more sophisticated, intense flavor, but is also more costly. Imitation vanilla extract costs less, but tastes less true as it it not really vanilla.
Tags: imitation vanilla, Pure vanilla, Pure vanilla extract, vanilla beans, vanilla extract, vanilla extract, vanilla taste
