[Ilovelife]

I bought a bottle of Mexican vanilla (at least I think that's what it is) when we went on vacation to Dominican Republic, but I have no idea what to use it for!

Do I just use it like regular vanilla? I realize I'm sounding incredibly ignorant here, so please be kind!

 

[alegna]

yep. use it like regular vanilla, but be ready for everything to be extra yummy!

-Angela

 

[cjr]

I love mexican vanilla. My mom brings me back a bottle every time she goes to Mexico. It's so delicious. She is always amazed at how fast I go through it. I have gone through 2 large bottles since Christmas. You don't need as much as regular vanilla because it has a really nice strong flavor.

 

[Jane]

It's important to be sure that you have a good quality mexican vanilla. Sometimes it's adulterated.

Quote:

Q: Why do people say Mexican vanilla is bad or dangerous? A: Mexico has no truth in labeling regulations or any organization like our FDA. Many times the vanilla will contain artificial flavors or enhancers, such as Coumarin, which is carcinogenic product that has been outlawed by the FDA for the last 30 to 40 years. If manufactured correctly, under the proper guidelines, it is considered to be a high quality vanilla.

http://www.nielsenmassey.com/faq.htm

 

[Ilovelife]

Wow! Thanks for all the info!

 

[loftmama]

my friend just brought me 2 big jugs from mexico yesterday. i use vanilla a ton. i make huge bottles of vanilla syrup for my lattes and to give as gifts. so, apricot, how do i know if my mexican vanilla is the good stuff or the bad stuff?

:

 

[Jane]

Well, it has a lot to do with the price. This is information from someone interested in selling vanilla in the US, but I do not see an inaccuracies in the information.

from http://www.vanilla.com/html/facts-mexican.html

Quote:

How do you know if it's pure vanilla? There are a few tip-offs: Is it amber colored, dark and murky, or clear? Clear is pure, synthetic vanillin. It's often called "crystal vanilla." Dark and murky is synthetic vanillin, most likely ethyl vanillin derived from coal tar. It may also be dark because it contains red dye that we've banned in the U.S. or it may contain caramel coloring. If it's truly amber-colored it may be natural vanilla. What is the alcohol content? Usually the synthetics range from no alcohol to about 2% alcohol (which acts as a stabilizer). There are some vanilla-vanillin blends and some cheap-quality vanillas that have 25% alcohol, but they aren't worth buying either. How much did you pay for it? This is the biggest tip-off. If it's in a big bottle and you paid $20.00 or less, it's absolutely not vanilla extract. Pure vanilla extract usually costs more in Mexico because only one company makes quality extract, and only in small quantities.

From the University of Kansas extension service: http://www.ca.uky.edu/fcs/areas/food/fnans.htm

Quote:

22. Is MEXICAN VANILLA safe to consume? Vanilla imported from Mexico for sale in the U.S. is inspected by the FDA. BUT the border bargains are not tested and should NOT be used. A flavor enhancer made from tonka beans may be used to make cheap vanilla more aromatic and potent so it can be stretched and thus sold at a bargain at the border. It contains coumarin, an anti-blood coagulating drug. Coumarin is an FDA-banned substance that can cause internal hemorrhaging, liver damage and possibly cancer.

 

[Jane]

One more thought from the Yucatan travel site:

Quote:

Vanilla Vainilla vah-NEE-yah Vanilla is sold in Hotel Zone shops beautifully bottled with gold foil labels and prices that will seem cheap compared to what the extract costs in the United States. Other brands sold in all supermarkets are good and cost much less but avoid labels with the words sintética or sabor de vainilla (vanilla-flavor, not the real extract). You can also find whole beans at Abastos Puerto Morelos