Vanilla Bean vs Vanilla Pod vs Vanilla Essence

Vanilla Bean vs Vanilla Pod vs Vanilla Essence

Almost everyone adores vanilla, worldwide. It's a fundamental element that various places and cultures have included in somewhat different ways. Vanilla is a flavor that is simple to use in dishes, ice cream, cakes, and desserts. The manufacture of vanilla is meticulous, exacting, and thrilling, and it is known as the world's favorite taste due to its delicate yet seductively sweet, creamy, and flowery undertones.

However, there are numerous varieties of vanilla around the globe. It may be difficult to grasp the world's favorite flavor, so we have provided a thorough overview in this blog post.

Vanilla Bean Pod

Ever ponder why vanilla bean pods are so expensive? One of the factors contributing to its rising cost is how challenging it is to grow vanilla. The vanilla vine's blossoms only have a single day of blooming each year, and it takes them two to four years to achieve full maturity. The plants need to be pollinated on that day in order to produce beans.

The vanilla bean's seeds can be seen adhering to the interior of the bean. With a knife or the tip of a spoon, scrape them out of the bean and add them to the cream. It offers a cozy yet smooth and chic aura. After removing all the seeds, you can give the empty pods a quick rinse, clean them with a cloth, and then dry them in a low oven so you can store and use them later. Your favorite recipes can benefit greatly from the flavor and perfume of leftover vanilla!

 

Vanilla Paste 

Vanilla PasteVanilla paste is a paste with a consistency akin to syrup that is prepared from a mixture of vanilla extract and vanilla powder. There are minute pieces of vanilla bean scattered throughout the paste, which is shockingly strong. Compared to vanilla beans, which must first be taken out of the vanilla pod, vanilla paste is easier to use. Some of the vanilla pod's seeds are also included in vanilla paste, a thicker form of vanilla extract (bean).

 

Vanilla Extract

By soaking vanilla pods in an ethyl alcohol and water solution, vanilla extract is naturally produced. The fragrant essence of vanilla extract comes from vanillin, a substance found in vanilla beans. Most vanilla extracts on the market today are devoid of artificial additives. It might occasionally contain sugar, though that is insignificant. Due to the processing, vanilla extract is more nutrient-rich and tastes more like real vanilla. Because of this, vanilla extract usually costs more than vanilla essence.

 

Vanilla Essence

Vanilla Essence, which is not fully constructed of vanilla beans. In comparison, it's much less expensive than vanilla extract. In a nutshell, vanilla essence mimics the flavor rather than the health benefits that real vanilla possesses.


The most distinctive flavor is vanilla. Since it is warm, rich, and creamy, baking would be challenging without it. Only utilizing vanilla bean pods or vanilla paste, which have a more enhanced flavor, is something we'd strongly advise! However, what kind of vanilla do you use when you incorporate it into your recipe?

Back to blog