Mexican Vanilla

The cheap Mexican vanilla is often courmarin (or vanilla doped with courmarin), an extract of the tonka bean, and is toxic.

See here:

"Most of the vanilla sold in Mexico is synthetic, though it doesn't all have coumarin in it. Telltale signs of the fake stuff: clear, or dark and murky (the real stuff is amber colored and translucent), low alcohol content (genuine vanilla extract contains at least 35% ethyl alcohol), laughably low price. Pure Mexican vanilla is available, but you're better off getting it in this country. Warning: it won't be cheap."

On Thu 28 Apr 2005 06:41:41a, Carol L wrote in rec.food.baking:

That depends. Check this out.

This Portion of our site is under construction

On Thu 28 Apr 2005 09:38:01a, FREECYCLE MOM wrote in rec.food.baking:

Sorry, it wasn't when I saw the page.

Perhaps this will do...

I knew I had read something about this awhile back. I needed my memory refreshed and you all have been very helpful. Thank you once again. Carol

"Carol L" wrote

Thanks. I just checked the bottle my parents gave me and it is on the list. I'm discarding it.

On Thu 28 Apr 2005 12:46:10p, jimmyjames wrote in rec.food.baking:

That's the point after all, isn't it?

Enjoy it!

Well, coumarin is not something that one would want to consume without previous knowledge. It's an anticoagulant (blood won't clot), and can cause liver trouble. It was banned as a food additive in the 1940's. If you're already on an anticoagulant, taking more is bad.

True vanilla bean vanilla doesn't have coumarin in it. Tonka bean 'vanilla' does. Most Mexican 'vanilla' is made from Tonka beans.

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

If she bought the vanilla bean it is certain that is good whether its mexican , tahitian , madagascar, etc. But beware of vanill extracts bought from mexico,you never know if its adulterated as the food laws there may not be as strict compared to the US. Roy

I've thrown out the Juan Miguel Anazaldula Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico FEI #3001655129

because it was on the list. What about vanilla from the dominican republic? Does it have the same problems? I have a full bottle of that bought for $12 by my son for me.

Helen

I was recently in Mexico and bought my second bottle of vanilla there. I also bought several bottles as gifts. It is sold all over (Cozumel) and I suspect other areas too. There seem to be different brands/grades. I bought vanilla from a very reputable store and I paid more because of the brand, I'm sure. However, I felt the store stood behind the quality of it's merchandise so it was worth the extra money. FWIW, the bottle(s) I bought specifically state they do NOT contain coumarin. The ingredients list is as follows:

water alcohol pure vanilla extract vanillin

Maybe some of you who are more knowledgeable will tell me it's fake, it's of poor quality or whatever... I happen to like it and have been satisfied with it in the past. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Ginny

Vanillin is artificial vanilla flavoring. If it was good stuff, it wouldn't have contained synthetic flavoring.

On the other hand, there was the test Cook's Illustrated did a while back where they preferred synthetic vanilla to the real stuff.

Mike

They preferred it for things that were baked. I use artificial in baked good and find no issue with the flavor. However, I only pay a couple dollars for a pint at Costco. I wasn't under the impression that it was "special" Mexican vanilla made from vanilla beans.

True.. when you're paying for the good stuff, you should get it. Not an artificial one. We paid about $4.00 a gallon for the artificial stuff when we were running the bakery. Vanillin is very cheap stuff.

There are those who feel that a good Mexican vanilla is among the best in the world. Some people, if memory serves, feel vanilla originated in Mexico. However, that leaves Madagascar as a big question....

Mike, a vanilla agnostic

I am new to this list. This discussion was recently on another list group I am part of. I have a few customers who travel to Mexico and bring me back vanilla. I'm told it is very good, though the best I've used was from Sri Lanka. I understand in the past there has been some trouble with vanilla from Mexico but due to improvements in labelling, that is changing. It is important to buy vanilla that states clearly it has no coumarin. Some also has corn syrup but that is not harmful. With the list of ingredients below, you are fine, though as I recall my most recent gift didn't have the vanillan. I'll try to check the bottle upstairs or at the store. Whatever you pay in Mexico is cheaper than what you will pay north of that border and certainly what I pay in Ontario. Wendy ----- Original Message ----- From: Vox Humana Newsgroups: rec.food.baking To: Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 6:10 PM Subject: Re: Mexican Vanilla

I find it hard to tell from the list of ingredients if it worth the money and hassle. If it is 80% artificial flavor and water - why bother? I agree that none of the ingredients is harmful, but I have to question the value.