Vanilla is one of the most widely used flavoring substances on the planet. It’s popular because of its pleasant flavor and peaceful scent. Vanilla is made from the mature pods of various orchids, most notably the Vanilla planifolia. Madagascar currently produces over 75% of the world’s vanilla. China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Mexico are among the countries that manufacture it. Food, fragrances, and pharmaceutical items employ vanilla extract and vanilla beans.
Along with saffron and cardamom, it’s one of the world’s most costly spices. Vanilla extract and beans may benefit your health, flexibility, and relevance in the culinary world. However, research is limited, with most studies concentrating on its particular components.
Vanilla Extract Nutrition Facts
Vanilla Extract’s Health Benefits
Antioxidant Effects
Some of the components in vanilla extract and beans have antioxidant properties, which protect cells from damage. Vanillin and vanillic acid, two of vanilla’s phenolic plant components, have been studied for their antioxidant properties. According to a 2020 test-tube study, Vanillin and vanillic acid protect brain cells from oxidative damage, and Vanillin was discovered to be the more powerful.
Vanillin also protected aged rats against liver damage and age-related oxidative damage, according to a study published in 2021. Another rat study from 2011 found that pretreatment with vanillin reduced the severity of the caused liver injury. While it’s apparent that vanilla extract and vanilla beans contain antioxidant-like compounds, it’s still unclear if regular vanilla consumption will provide any antioxidant advantages to humans.
Brain Health
Certain chemicals present in vanilla, such as vanillin and vanillic acid, have improved brain health studies. They could also have neuroprotective qualities, which could protect your neurological system. A 2021 study, for example, looked into the neuroprotective properties of vanillic acid on mice that had been injected with a neurotoxin (a drug that might affect your nervous system).
Vanillic acid injections were reported to protect nerve cells from inflammation, diminish Alzheimer’s disease indicators, and reduce memory impairment induced by the neurotoxin. In several test-tube and animal investigations, Vanillin has also been a promising neuroprotective agent. However, there is no evidence that a vanilla extract or vanilla bean-rich diet improves brain function or protects against cognitive decline in humans.
Reduce Added Sugar Intake
Vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder might help you cut back on added sugar in foods and beverages. The addition of vanilla scent to sugary drinks improved their perceived sweetness, according to a 2020 study including 129 young adults. A study from 2021 found that adding vanilla to a reduced-sugar yogurt did not affect its perceived sweetness.
Furthermore, according to a 2020 study of 112 children, adding vanilla to milk-based sweets enhanced the overall liking of reduced-sugar alternatives in almost 80% of the participants. This implies that adding vanilla to sweets can help reduce the sugar needed.
Highly Versatile
Most people have a bottle of vanilla extract in their kitchen because it’s used in many dishes, including quick bread, cakes, cookies, granola, etc. Pure vanilla beans and vanilla bean powder – pulverized, entire vanilla beans — can also offer a distinctive flavor to various meals. Look for goods that solely include vanilla bean extract and alcohol if you want to utilize natural vanilla extract.
The purest is far more expensive than goods, including synthetic vanillin, sugar, and artificial tastes and colors. Pure vanilla extract, bean powder, and entire beans can be found at most grocery stores and online Whenever feasible, buy vanilla from firms like Vanilla Bean Project, Lafaza, or other brands that support fair trade and sustainability by working directly with vanilla producers.
Is Vanilla Extract Beneficial to the Liver?
Vanilla is naturally anti-inflammatory, and it can treat inflammation in the liver, skin, and other parts of the body. The component that causes it to reduce inflammation and heal wounds is vanillin. According to a 2020 test-tube study, Vanillin and vanillic acid protect brain cells from oxidative damage, and Vanillin was discovered to be the more powerful. Vanillin also protected aged rats against liver damage and age-related oxidative damage, according to a study published in 2021.
Vanilla as a sugar substitute can also help you maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle by lowering blood glucose levels. Vanilla extract’s alcohol can help relieve toothache pain, while its antioxidants may help with healing. Vanilla extract ingestion is treated similarly to alcohol intoxication and can result in alcohol poisoning. The ethanol will depress the central nervous system, leading to respiratory problems. Intoxication can dilate the pupils and cause flushed skin, digestive problems, and hypothermia.
How much Vanilla Extract Should you Use?
How to Use: Before baking, add 1 to 3 tablespoons vanilla extract to your favorite sweet batters and custards. Vanilla essence may be used in practically any dish, but it’s outstanding in cakes, brownies, and cookies. According to the rule of thumb, use one teaspoon of vanilla extract for every 2 inches of vanilla bean. Given that the average vanilla bean is 6 inches long, this would mean substituting one tablespoon of extract for one vanilla bean:
After heating, replace one entire vanilla bean with one tablespoon of vanilla extract. A tablespoon of vanilla essence is required in this cake/cookie recipe. Isn’t that a lot of information? It’s usually only a teaspoon. Pastry chefs have been employing a lot of vanilla extract in their recipes during the last few decades.
What does Vanilla Extract do?
Vanilla’s effect in sweet baked goods is similar to that of salt in savory baked goods: it enhances all of the other flavors in the recipe. Cookies and pastries without it tend to taste flat and dull. You’ll probably never do it again if you forget to add the vanilla! Macerating and percolating vanilla beans create vanilla extract in an ethanol and water solution. Many Western desserts require it, mainly baked products such as cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, custards, ice creams, and puddings.
Because of the fantastic flavor, this ingredient is utilized in practically every baked goods recipe. Vanilla extract is always used in desserts since it chemically adds additional flavor while also bringing out the flavors of the other components.
Is it okay if I add Vanilla Extract to my Tea?
Making your vanilla tea is simple, and I’ve started experimenting with my vanilla blend. One vanilla bean is peeled and cut down the middle to extract the vanilla flavor. Combine the tea, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean in a container or jar. Close the cover, give it a good shake, and let the tea steep for at least a week. Vanilla extract is an unusual cocktail component, but it’s a terrific way to impart a woody, rich taste without adding sugar.
When using vanilla extract, go easy on it; even one drop of too much might ruin a drink’s delicate balance. Vanilla tea has several advantages, including boosting metabolism and enhancing gastrointestinal health thanks to the active element vanillin and other antioxidants found in both the tea and the vanilla beans.
What’s the Difference Between Vanilla and Vanilla Extract?
We can say that vanilla refers to the flavor, whereas vanilla extract refers to the fundamental ingredient responsible for the flavor. The latter is also the most powerful and pure of the two. What’s the Difference Between Vanilla Extract and Vanilla Bean Extract? Artificial components and additions in vanilla flavor include synthetic vanillin, corn syrup, and lignin, commonly produced from wood pulp.
On the other hand, Pure vanilla extract contains only two ingredients: actual vanilla beans and alcohol. It’s entirely up to you to decide! While we prefer good-quality pure vanilla, the best decision, in my opinion, is based on what you’re preparing. Go for the more expensive pure vanilla extract if you’re cooking a dish with a strong vanilla flavor, such as pudding, custard, candy, or even a delicate cake.
Conclusion
Macerating and percolating vanilla beans create vanilla extract in an ethanol and water solution. Many Western desserts require it, mainly baked products such as cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, custards, ice creams, and puddings. Pure vanilla extract contains several hundred other taste components in addition to vanillin, which is responsible for its complex, deep flavor.
On the other hand, the artificial vanilla flavor is created entirely from vanillin, which is typically derived from a by-product of the wood pulp industry. There is no way for vanilla extract to be colorless or transparent because of the way it is created (by macerating naturally brown vanilla beans in alcohol). As a result, any clear vanilla flavoring is synthetic.
