Cooking With Mexican Vanilla

The Origin of Vanilla

It was in Mexico that vanilla was first cultivated, cured and made into an extract. Mexico's long history of vanilla dates all the way back to the Aztec civilization. The Aztec's were known to use it in xocoatl, a drink they made from cocoa beans, cinnamon, vanilla and sometimes spicy peppers.

Today only a small percentage of vanilla, from a global perspective, is produced from the valleys of Mexico. Its growing worldwide popularity led to its exportation to other places. Today the Bourbon islands and Madagascar are the largest producers of vanilla, but demand for the Mexican variety is still strong among chefs and cooking aficionados.

Cooking with Mexican Vanilla

Each type of vanilla, whether it's from Mexico, Madagascar or Tahiti, has a distinct flavor. Each one is a little bit different, so it is good to try out the different types and see which on.

The rich, aromatic taste of Mexican vanilla is a special treat. The bean pods from Mexican orchid plants are considered to have a higher concentration of flavor, when compared to other types of vanilla. Mexican vanilla extract is also made with a lower concentration of alcohol. Both these factors combine to give the extract a smooth, deep, rich taste that makes it so popular.

Buyer Beware

While we do love and recommend Mexican vanilla, you should use caution. Picking up on its popularity, many people in towns along the U.S. / Mexican border have taken up selling "vanilla" to tourists. These fakes usually come in large one liter bottles, are sold for just a couple dollars and sometimes aren't even labeled.

It is always painful to hear of someone who is so proud of their purchase. Especially how cheap it they were able to get it for just across the border.

Real vanilla extract takes a significant amount of time to make. It's a long process. That is why real extract is so much more expensive that imitation extract.

When buying Mexican vanilla it is important to get it from a trusted source. We recommend several types of vanilla extract on our website and we include trusted places to buy Mexican vanilla.



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