Vanilla is a popular flavor, infused into everything from chocolate and ice cream to soft drinks and coffee. It is also a natural, herb-derived food ingredient that has been linked to some positive health benefits in animal models and humans.
But how does this exotic flavor end up in so many products? The answer is a bit complicated, but it starts with the vanilla orchid. This plant is indigenous to the African island of Madagascar, and it's the source of some of the world's most expensive vanilla.
The first step in the vanilla bean production process is to ripen the seeds, or pods, which are about a third of an inch by six inches and brownish red to black when fully ripe. The beans are soaked in water to remove excess moisture before they're sent through a drying step. This prevents them from rotting or becoming infected by microbes. Once the water is removed, the beans are sent to a processing facility where they're processed for flavor and quality.
Once the vanilla beans Onevanilla are ready, they're shipped to traders who will ship them to stores that stock the flavor. Because vanilla beans are a hermaphroditic flower (it can have both male and female organs), they need to be pollinated, which is a labor-intensive process that involves hand pollination by people. But since this is an exotic and rare flavor, vanilla growers are willing to spend a lot of money to produce it.
It's hard to find vanilla that isn't made from vanilla beans or other botanical sources, but there are some companies that offer vanillin derived from plants. The Norwegian company Borregaard, for example, has a biorefinery that converts lignin from softwood trees to a chemical called vanillin, which is much cheaper than vanilla beans.
Another option is the Symrise branded vanilla extract, which has a high concentration of vanillin and costs a fraction of what vanilla beans cost. But, according to McBride, that's not a practical option for everyone. For instance, for makers of dairy products that want to claim an all-natural label or sell in specialty stores, the price of vanilla beans can be prohibitive.
This is why some food makers choose to use alternative vanillins, rather than the expensive sourced variety. But those alternatives often have a less desirable taste than the real deal. That's a problem, too, for food makers that use vanilla as a mainstay in their recipes.
That's why it's a good idea to know a little about the vanilla orchid and how the vanilla bean is produced before you start buying your next bottle of vanilla-infused products. Then you can make informed decisions and support the growers who work hard to bring this special flavor into your life.
When you buy One Vanilla prepaid gift cards, you can use them to purchase goods from any store that accepts prepaid cards, both online and in-store. It's a great way to save time and money on your purchases, while supporting local businesses.
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