Chieftain^® Wild Rice Company

VANILLA EXTRACT

Description:
Vanilla Beans (Vanilla Planifolia) are the seed of the climbing orchid, originally from Southern Mexico where they grow wild. When the Spanish arrived in Central and South America the Aztecs were already using Vanilla as a flavoring agent for drinks. Vanilla Beans are green when harvested and become black due to the lengthy fermentation process, but remain soft and flexible. Vanilla Extract is the most common form of Vanilla. The extract is made by macerating chopped beans in an alcohol-water solution in order to extract the flavor. The mixture is then aged for several months. The extract is a brownish black liquid that has all of the flavor of the Vanilla Beans but it is easier to use for many home chefs than scraping the Vanilla Pods.

Suggested Use:
Vanilla is a great addition to chocolate, coffee, ice cream, cakes, cookies, fruit desserts and most sweet dishes. Surprisingly, a small amount of vanilla is good with certain rich dishes such as lobster and veal.