Recently, a video of a man claiming that he would have ‘no more vanilla’ ever again went viral on the internet after he searched ‘where does vanilla flavoring come from?’Madagascar vanilla is said to produce the best quality vanilla beans in the world. It is extracted from beans that only grow in Madagascar.Generally, the vanilla flavor is extracted from a solution of vanilla pods, which are macerated and percolated in a solution of ethanol and water.Artificial vanilla flavoring, which we use widely when making cakes, cookies and ice cream, or add to a latte, comes from a chemical compound called vanillin, which is made from an aromatic oil found in the lignin of tree bark. The vanilla flavoring, which is mentioned in a national geographic article, comes from a chemical compound called castoreum This is secreted by the castor sacs (which are located near the anal glands) of a beaver, between the pelvis and the base of the tail. This substance, called castoreum, generally appears as a brown, murky color and its function is to act as a scent-marking agent for the beaver.After reading all about where does vanilla flavoring come from, do read our other articles on where does imitation vanilla come from and where does feta cheese come from?What is artificial vanilla flavoring made from?As explained in the introduction, musky and sweet-scented castoreum from the castor gland is an anal secretion of the beaver.Castoreum gets its vanilla scent mainly because of the beaver’s diet, which includes leaves and bark instead of meats or hard-to-digest foods that can put pressure on the digestive system. For beavers, this main purpose of this scent is to mark their territory and keep other animals or other beavers from entering it. This compound or secretions get extracted, or more specifically milked, from the beaver’s body. This allows humans to obtain pure castoreum, which is used in perfumes and candles. Today, this mix of anal and castor secretions (or castoreum) is hardly ever used in vanilla flavoring, which is used as an additive to food.Another artificial method that does not involve the direct use of natural vanilla pods is extracting another chemical compound called vanillin. Vanillin is made from an aromatic oil called guaiacol, extracted from the pulp or lignin of tree bark. The easiest way to distinguish pure vanilla extract from artificial is its color. While pure, natural vanilla extract will appear a deep to light brown, artificial vanilla extract is almost always clear like water. This artificial vanilla is popularly used in cakes, ice cream, lattes, and other foods and drinks that we consume every day. It adds vanilla flavoring to them while keeping them plant-based.How do they make vanilla flavoring?Did you know that the demand for sustainably farmed vanilla is on the rise? This is because it is grown in an environmentally and economically sustainable way that ensures a long-term supply.Castoreum vanilla flavoring, which is secreted by a beaver’s anal glands, is removed in a gross and cruel manner. Beavers are anesthetized before this process and the castoreum is literally squirted out from the beaver! Even then, only a small quantity can be procured. Due to its scarcity and how it is extracted, it comes at a really high price and is seldom used in normal, edible products. On the other hand, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved castoreum as an edible food additive substance. However, it is scarce because of the cruel treatment afflicted to the beaver. It is sold at a very high price and used in luxury goods that only the wealthiest can afford. Hence, it is hard to find castoreum vanilla flavoring in food products that are mass-produced at an industry level or any food items which can be called anything less than a regal luxury. As of yet, extracting castoreum from the anal glands of beavers is not illegal in the USA.What is the difference between pure vanilla flavoring and vanilla extract?The key difference which between vanilla flavoring and vanilla extract is in their chemical compounds.While vanilla flavoring is obtained from castoreum chemical compounds secreted in the anal glands of beavers, vanilla extract is obtained by processing and percolating vanilla beans or pods in ethanol and water to separate a chemical compound called vanillin. Pure vanilla extract will never go bad or expire and, therefore, has an indefinite shelf-life.Vanilla extract which contains only vanillin is a synthetic vanilla extract, while natural vanilla extract contains not just vanillin but several other chemical compounds, which give it complex and deep flavors. Another way in which artificial vanilla flavoring can be made is by extracting guaiacol, which is an aromatic oil found in tree bark. So, the difference between artificial vanilla flavoring and synthetic vanilla extract is that, while the synthetic vanilla extract is extracted from small black vanilla beans, artificial vanilla flavoring is an oil extracted from the lignin found in tree bark.Does vanilla flavoring have alcohol in it?No, it does not. As producing vanilla flavoring involves a complex process of chemical compound breakdown to obtain vanillin, there is almost 0%-3% alcohol in artificial or synthetic vanilla flavoring. But rest assured, whatever alcohol the vanilla flavoring may contain evaporates in the baking, heating, or cooking process, and there is no need to worry whether your vanilla latte contains alcohol. On the other hand, pure natural vanilla extract made from vanilla beans is processed with water and ethyl alcohol and has to have at least 35% alcohol to be called an extract under the US FDA regulations. Anything lesser than that will be called flavoring. There are many other versions of the extracts which are 2-3 times stronger, but they are to be used with caution as they have an extremely intense flavor and a single drop more than necessary can ruin the entire flavor and taste of your food.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for where does vanilla flavoring come from? Musky vanilla facts disclosed, then why not take a look at what is a group of rabbits called? how did they get that name? or what does bat poop look like? is it harmful to humans?
Recently, a video of a man claiming that he would have ‘no more vanilla’ ever again went viral on the internet after he searched ‘where does vanilla flavoring come from?’
