Mexican vanilla — which may smell and taste like real vanilla and
is cheaper than the real thing
— is sold in Mexico and other Latin American countries and has started appearing in some U.S. stores and restaurants, the FDA said. Pure vanilla is made with the extract of beans from the vanilla plant.
Why is vanilla cheaper in Mexico?
Artificial vanilla extract is affordable
, and is the vanilla extract predominantly sold in countries that produce vanilla beans. … That’s why in Mexico, even though the country grows very fine beans, artificial vanillas dominate the market.
Should I buy vanilla in Mexico?
Do not purchase vanilla extract with a Mexican label
, even from a specialty food store or online! Mexican vanilla that is produced by a reputable American company is pure vanilla extract made from Mexican beans.
What is the best brand of vanilla to buy in Mexico?
Traditional Mexican Vanilla Extract
.
Blue Cattle Truck Trading Co.
Traditional Mexican Vanilla Extract is hands down the best Mexican vanilla you can find. Please note, Blue Cattle Truck has another variant of Mexican Vanilla labeled ‘pure’.
How much does Mexican vanilla cost?
Current vanilla prices are
US $400 a kilo for beans
at source, depending on size and quality, and extract-grade beans are even more expensive. When shipping, customs and other fees are added, the price can be $100 more per kilo.
What is so special about Mexican vanilla?
Our Traditional Mexican vanilla is more typical of a really good vanilla that you buy when you visit Mexico. It has
10% alcohol
and a small amount (less than 1%) of vanillin (which is a naturally occurring vanillin, not synthetic). The vanillin helps hold the flavor and gives the vanilla a very rich, smooth flavor.
How can you tell if Mexican vanilla is real?
It’s often called “crystal vanilla.” Dark and murky is synthetic vanillin, most likely ethyl vanillin derived from coal tar. It may also be dark because it contains red dye that we’ve banned in the United States, or it may contain caramel coloring.
If it’s truly amber colored
, it may be natural vanilla.
Is Costco pure vanilla extract good?
5. Pure vanilla extract. … Costco’s Kirkland Signature pure vanilla extract is
an excellent find
. The 16-ounce bottle, which will last you a very long time, is priced at $25 at our local Costco (compared to $12 for 4 fluid ounces at Trader Joe’s).
Does Mexican vanilla go bad?
It probably won’t go bad
, but it can start to degrade in quality after 2 years or so. If you buy your Mexican vanilla extract straight from Mexico, you should know that they sometimes use an additional ingredient. Coumarin is often added to enhance the flavor.
Is McCormick vanilla extract real?
Want nothing but pure, natural vanilla flavor? There’s no beating McCormick’s
Pure Vanilla Extract
in taste and value. Made from Madagascar vanilla beans, water, and alcohol, this extract will give your recipes that classic vanilla flavor without any artificial ingredients.
What alcohol is used in Mexican vanilla?
It must be extracted from no less than 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon, in a minimum of 35
% ethyl alcohol
, with the remaining liquid being water. The addition of sugar, glycerin, or corn syrup is also allowed and is sometimes added to Vanilla Extract to mask the flavor of synthetic alcohol.
Can you bring back vanilla from Mexico?
The short answer is that unless you are bringing back cases and cases of vanilla,
you won’t have to pay duty but you do have to declare it.
Which vanilla extract should I buy?
Best Flavor Enhancer:
Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract
Good vanilla makes chocolate, fruit, nuts, sugar and butter all taste better. And that is the real strength of Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract. It elevates all these ingredients and makes them shine.
Does Walmart sell Mexican vanilla?
Mexican Vanilla Extract-4oz – Walmart.com.
What is the difference between Mexican and Madagascar vanilla?
Madagascar vanilla
Also called bourbon vanilla, Madagascan vanilla comes from the same plant and has the same basic flavor notes as Mexican vanilla. The only significant difference is that
in Mexico, the plant is pollinated by a bee and in Madagascar, humans need to pollinate the flower
, leading to its higher price.
What is Totonac vanilla?
Vanilla is
the only edible fruit of the orchid
. The Totonacs of Veracruz, Mexico are credited as its first cultivators. … It so pleased Cortez that he inquired as to its special original flavor and fragrance; he was told it was Vanilla (Little Sheath) which describes the shape of the Vanilla pod.
