Gourmet Vanilla – The Facts About Mexican Vanilla

Mexico is the original birthplace of gourmet vanilla, and it remains the source of some of the finest gourmet vanilla developed anyplace in the world. But Mexican vanilla has gotten an undeserved poor rap for the practices of some imitation vanilla companies.

The vanilla planifolia orchid is indigenous to Mexico, which was the principal source of vanilla worldwide for several centuries. Only a little amount of genuine vanilla is developed in Mexico now, but it continues to be prized by connoisseurs for its smoothness, creamy richness, and vibrant, spicy flavor and aroma.

Mexico lost its dominance of the vanilla marketplace in the early 1900s, following the Mexican revolution wreaked havoc on the vanilla making operations on the Gulf Coast. Unable to generate adequate to compete with new developing operations in Madagascar and Indonesia, some Mexican producers started substituting all-natural vanilla with inexpensive manufactured imitation vanilla, to which a potentially toxic compound known as coumarin was added.

Not only did coumarin disguise the artificial taste, it drastically intensified the aroma and flavor of the imitation vanilla and produced it look far more like the real point. This made it feasible for Mexican producers to continue to capitalize on the nation’s association with prime-good quality all-natural vanilla lengthy right after lengthy soon after they had in fact grow to be manufacturers of a synthetic imitation product.

Nonetheless, the toxic properties of coumarin became a lead to of concern when it was confirmed to result in liver harm in lab animals, and in the 1950s the US officially banned the use of coumarin in any foods or food additives sold in the country. Many other nations have done the very same. Additional analysis on coumarin has shown it to also be a carcinogen.

How to be positive you happen to be acquiring true, natural Mexican vanilla

Even though it is illegal to import imitation vanilla with coumarin into the US and other nations, it nevertheless manages to make its way to customers. Typically tourists visiting Mexico are tempted by low rates and an overwhelming aroma (which is truly typical of coumarin-laced imitation vanilla) and are convinced that they are receiving a steal on the “true thing”.

Here are some guidelines for making certain you do not get duped:

1. Spend attention to price. True, natural Mexican vanilla is relatively uncommon and is undoubtedly not inexpensive. In fact, it is high-priced – and there are no “unique bargain sales”. If you happen to be provided a low price for a massive bottle, you can be certain its an imitation.

2. Spend focus to colour. Actual Mexican vanilla is translucent and amber colored. Most synthetics are dark and murky or completely clear.

3. Pay interest to alcohol content material. Real gourmet vanilla is extracted by using alcohol, and according to FDA standards genuine vanilla extract have to have an alcohol content of at least 35%. Synthetics typically contain either no alcohol at all, or have an very low alcohol content, no higher than two% – 3%.