Vanilla

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia
AKA: Madagascar vanilla, Bourbon vanilla Family: Orchidaceae
Family: Orchidaceae
Kind: Perennial Vine

When the vanilla flower is pollinated it produces a pod with a bean inside.

Vanilla powder is pure, unadulterated vanilla bean made by grinding dried vanilla beans. This is the purest form of vanilla with the most vanilla flavour

Vanilla extract is made by washing and then soaking ground or chopped vanilla beans in a solution of ethyl alcohol and water. Often a blend of beans from different vanilla is used, but you can also find extract from just one kind, e.g. Madgascar. Vanilla extract can contain small amounts of sweetener.

Vanilla essence is often made using water, ethanol, propylene glycol, emulsifiers, and chemically produced flavours and colours. The vanilla taste is usually not as strong as in the extract.

Vanilla Pods
Vanilla Bean
Vanilla Powder
Example of Extract and Essence
Vanilla Cream

The Orchidaceae Family

a family of flowering plants
AKA: the orchid family


Kingdom: Plantae   Clades: Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Monocots   Order: Asparagales