[Sca-cooks] OT OOP Vanilla Extract

[Carol Smith]

Permitted additives, per CFR 21.169.175, are, and I quote:

(1) Glycerin.
(2)  Propylene glycol.
(3) Sugar (including invert sugar).
(4) Dextrose.
(5) Corn sirup. [sic]

These are the ONLY additions permitted for Pure Vanilla Extract.  Anything else should be called "flavor", "with color", or have some other modifier to indicate that it is not strictly pure vanilla extract.  There's a whole story on the importance of bean moisture, too, that goes along with this ruling.

Regards,
Brekke
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Terry Decker<mailto:t.d.decker at worldnet.att.net> 
  To: Cooks within the SCA<mailto:sca-cooks at ansteorra.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] OT OOP Vanilla Extract


  Vanilla extract is produced by alcohol extraction from aged vanilla beans. 
  The FDA requires that pure vanilla extract be 35 per cent alcohol (with 
  13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon of 35 per cent solution).  The FDA 
  also permits sugar, corn syrup, caramel, colors and stabilizers to be added 
  to the extract.  When these additional items appear on the label, the 
  extract is most likely unaged.  Fresh vanilla extract tends to be harsh 
  tasting and adding 20 per cent or more sugar smooths the taste while 
  caramels, colors and stabilizers give the product an aged appearance.  Top 
  quality vanilla extract has only vanilla, alcohol and water for ingredients 
  and its smooth flavor and dark rich color are the result of aging the 
  product between one and two years.  Aging costs money.

  Bear


  ----- Original Message ----- 

  Hello I've never posted to the list but I've got a question. When did they 
  start putting corn syrup in vanilla extract?  I have found such in the 
  Publix store brand, in the McCormick brand, and in the Nielsen-Massey brand 
  at the gourmet shop. The only kind that didn't have corn syrup was the Spice 
  Islands brand but, at $11.99 for two ounces, it's three or four times more 
  expensive. Was there a problem with the vanilla crop? Is home-made vanilla 
  extract just as good?
  Cheers,
  Isabella
  (Daniel's better half...)

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