Facts about Gourmet Vanilla Beans

Many people are familiar with vanilla extract, which is produced from the vanilla bean. The vanilla bean is a product of the orchid plant. There are different forms of gourmet vanilla beans and each of them can be used in different ways. They also have a slightly different taste and aroma. It is up to you which particular type of vanilla beans you need for your vanilla bean recipes. At the end of the day it is your personal taste that will judge which particular bean is best according to your preferences.

The vanilla bean comes from an exotic orchid and this plant is very rare. Despite its rarity it is still a very popular commodity. Internet technology allows everyone from different parts of the globe to buy the vanilla bean produced by the orchid plant and experience the taste of its one of a kind flavor. The internet has actually made it much simpler to find whole vanilla beans for in-home use as many regular grocery stores do not carry the whole bean. You are sure to find vanilla extract in the grocery store along with its distant cousin imitation vanilla extract but it is extremely rare to fine the whole vanilla bean.

There are many vanilla bean recipes that you can prepare using the seed from the vanilla pod. The pod itself also contains amazing flavor and can be used as a flavor enhancer for things like beverages. And one of the benefits is that it is a natural ingredient which is a desired attribute in today’s market.

On the whole, vanilla extract is one of the most widely used vanilla bean products and is generally used for many vanilla bean recipes like pastries. Of course the lease expensive version of vanilla flavoring that is readily available in the market is an imitation of real vanilla extract. Generally, vanilla extract that you find at the grocery store does not come from a vanilla bean, but it is made with artificial substances. The decadent extract that is garnered from the vanilla bean is produced by chopping the pod and seeds then brewing them with water and ethyl alcohol. The aging process gives authentic vanilla extract its dark color and potent aroma.

Authentic vanilla extract is perfect for cooking or baking and it can also be used in hot or cold beverages. There are several types of vanilla beans and where they are cultivated has much to do with how the spice performs when mixed into your recipes. The Indonesian vanilla bean can overcome heat well and this is the best choice for recipes that needs to be prepared over a period of time. Bourbon vanilla that comes from Madagascar is perfectly suited for any type of cooking process, whether hot or cold, which makes it the perfect ingredient for your pantry. The Mexican vanilla bean also does not need to be heated in order to extract its flavor so this is another good choice for vanilla bean recipes that are prepared without being heated.

Be careful when opting to use imitation vanilla extract. This type of vanilla has less intense flavor when compared to authentic vanilla bean extract, but the texture is heavier. The taste is somewhat comparable to authentic vanilla, but there is a distinct aftertaste when consuming a dessert or a drink that was enhanced using the imitation product especially when mixed with a cold beverage or used in unheated vanilla bean recipes.

Another product made using authentic vanilla beans is vanilla pasts, although many consumers are not familiar with this variety of vanilla product. This is a concentrated type of vanilla extract that comes from the vanilla seed that you can use for vanilla bean recipes. However, this type of paste is mostly used in commercial kitchen to make any dish more flavourful without the need to add any liquid.

Lastly, vanilla beans can be crushed into vanilla powder that is commonly used in the United States and European countries. It is a combination of sugar such as sucrose and dextrose along with vanilla extracts. There are companies that produce synthetic vanilla powder flavor so you need be very careful to read the label if you really want a gourmet natural vanilla product. The authentic vanilla powder is best for cold vanilla bean recipes or you can also sprinkle it on top of any warm foods as additional sweet flavor.

There is no doubt that the vanilla bean that comes from the orchid plant is very useful no matter what form it is in. You can use it for any vanilla bean recipe of your choice and even sprinkle it into recipes that don’t necessarily call for vanilla to see how vanilla can change any recipe.