Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla

Here's a question for you:
You have been living for decades but do you know what are you consuming?
Do you know the meaning of "Vanilla" ?
What is it made out of?

Spot the difference!

Notice the difference?
It's in the black dots/specks
On the left are products made out of Artificial Vanilla
On the right are products made out of Real Vanilla

On the left is how marketers display in their products aka Vanilla Flower
*It's for your Old Folks, not for you to consume
On the right is how Vanilla looks like aka Vanilla Pod
*Do not judge a book by it's cover

Here's another famous Vanilla Product
- Click and enlarge the picture of Coca-Cola Vanilla
- Read the line below of 330ml
- "Soft Drink with Vegetable Extracts with Vanilla Flavor"

Let me tell you the truth ...
- Most of the Vanilla we consume are listed as Vanilla Flavor/Extract
Here is a list of Example:
1) Mc Donald Ice Cream & Non Premium Ice Cream
2) Vanilla Cakes , Cupcakes, Muffin, Cheesecake
3) Vanilla Milk
4) Vanilla Cookies
5) Vanilla Sauce, Vanilla Frosting
6) Vanilla flavored Bubble Tea?  *Click for more info

So ever wonder what goes into your stomach?

1. Synthetic/Artificial/Imitation Vanilla Flavoring *Often labeled as Vanilla Extract in Malaysia

- Made from  by-products of paper *Recycling, what genius ecological solution !

- Rely on chemically produced Lignin Vanillin for the flavor *Chemistry again? Kill me please! 

Here's 3 Reasons why shops use this Imitation Vanilla
- Way cheaper than the Real Vanilla Pod
- It's Halal compared to Pure Vanilla Extract *Depends on company's target market
- Longer Shelf Life & not as Perishable as Real Vanilla Pod

Here's the real deal

 

1. Vanilla Pod
- It's the purest/original form of Vanilla

- It's Halal * Cut into half and scrap the seeds out
- Cost about Rm1-10 Per sticks depending on grade *Low grade ones are most often used

 

2. Pure Vanilla Extract

- Made from Vanilla Pod

- Extract flavor using alcohol *Non Halal, if your Vanilla Ice Cream is halal it's a fake then

- Expensive *Will rip a hole in your pocket

Here's a few key point on How to Differentiate the True & the Bogus

1. Always look for Black Specks/Dots *It's the Vanilla Seed

2. Try looking at the ingredients of the product *Avoid Vanilla Extract/Flavor
    3. You get what you pay for *Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream = real, Wall's Ice Cream = Fake

Next time when you are to purchase any Vanilla Products, think twice!

- I wouldn't eat a by-product of paper *it's like Eating sh*t

How about you?