vanilla beans
Description
Vanilla is the fruit of an orchid plant, which grows in the form of a bean pod. Although there are over 110 varieties of vanilla orchids, only one, Vanilla planifolia, produces the fruit which gives us 99 percent of commercial vanilla. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron, due to the extensive labor required to grow the vanilla seed pods. The vanilla bean grows quickly on the vine but is not ready for harvest until maturity - approximately nine months. Harvesting vanilla beans is as labor intensive as pollinating the blossoms. Immature dark green pods are not harvested. Pale yellow discoloration which commences at the distal end of the beans is an indication of the maturity of pods. Each bean ripens at its own time, requiring a daily harvest. To ensure the finest flavor from every bean, each individual pod must be picked by hand just as it begins to split on the end. Despite the expense, it is highly valued for its flavor.
The fruit contains tiny, flavorless seeds. In dishes prepared with whole natural vanilla, these seeds are recognizable as black specks. Though there are many compounds present in the extracts of vanilla, the compound vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is primarily responsible for the characteristic flavor and smell of vanilla. The processed beans are sorted, graded, bundled and wrapped in paraffin paper and preserved for the development of desired bean qualities, especially flavor and aroma.
How to select
If the beans are around 10 to 15 cm long, then the pods are considered as under second quality and beans less than 10 cm in length are under third quality. Quality and aroma of the vanillin flavor varies by growth location, since some areas produce beans with higher vanillin content.Each of the beans has a considerable amount of seeds inside the pod which are covered by a dark red liquid from which the vanilla essence is extracted. Good quality vanilla bean has a strong aromatic flavor. Look for 100% pure and natural high grade vanilla bean as beans with artificial color and flavoring are also present in the market.
Culinary Uses
" Vanilla flavoring in food may be achieved by adding vanilla extract or by cooking vanilla pods in the liquid preparation. A stronger aroma may be attained if the pods are split in two, exposing more of a pods surface area to the liquid. In this case, the pods seeds are mixed into the preparation
" A major use of vanilla is in flavoring ice cream. The most common flavor of ice cream is vanilla, and thus most people consider it to be the "default" flavor.
" Although vanilla is a prized flavoring agent on its own, it is also used to enhance the flavor of other substances, to which its own flavor is often complementary, such as chocolate, custard, caramel, coffee and others.
How to store
Store vanilla beans in an airtight dark colored container and keep it away from direct sunlight.
Health benefits
" In old medicinal literature, vanilla is described as an aphrodisiac and a remedy for fevers.
" The vanilla beans may increase levels of catecholamines (including epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline), and as such can also be considered mildly addictive.
Related Glossary
.webp)
Follow US
Recipe Categories
- Vitamin B12 Cobalamin Rich Recipes 33 recipes
- Low Calorie, Weight Loss Indian Recipes 421 recipes
- Low Cholesterol Indian Recipes 307 recipes
- Healthy Indian Breakfast 372 recipes
- Indian Diabetic recipes 558 recipes
- Indian Pregnancy recipes 461 recipes
- Zero Oil Indian Recipes 133 recipes
- Iron Rich Indian recipes 267 recipes
- Healthy Indian Acidity recipes 132 recipes
- Healthy Sabzis 108 recipes
- Indian Healthy Veg Snack 275 recipes
- Healthy Heart Recipes 415 recipes
- Healthy Veg Indian Soups 74 recipes
- Calcium Rich Indian Recipes 373 recipes
- High Blood Pressure Indian Recipes 99 recipes
- Healthy Indian Salads Recipes 137 recipes
- Low Carb Indian Diet, recipes 160 recipes
- Hypothyroidism Diet 59 recipes
- Arthritis Diet 68 recipes
- Vitamin K Diet 41 recipes
- High Protein Indian recipes 93 recipes
- Fatty Liver Diet 30 recipes
- PCOS 131 recipes
- Gluten Free Veg Indian 193 recipes
- High Fiber 328 recipes
- Indian Cancer Patients 275 recipes
- Jaundice Diet 45 recipes
- Sprouts 61 recipes
- Typhoid 43 recipes
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) 20 recipes
- Kidney Stone Diet 9 recipes
- Home Remedies 213 recipes
- Senior Citizen 195 recipes
- Diet for Dialysis 10 recipes
- Healthy Indian Drinks and Juices 212 recipes
- Gout Indian Recipes 17 recipes
- Potassium Rich 80 recipes
- Vegan 194 recipes
- Forever Young Diet, Anti Aging Indian Diet 255 recipes
- Indian recipes to treat Vomiting 7 recipes
- High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids 31 recipes
- Zinc Rich Foods 55 recipes
- Malaria Diet 17 recipes
- Vitamin B1 Rich Indian Foods, Recipes 101 recipes
- Vitamin A Rich, Beta Carotene, Retinol 87 recipes
- Antioxidant Rich Indian 445 recipes
- Low Veg Glycemic Index 86 recipes
- Lower Blood Pressure Salads 7 recipes
- Healthy Indian Dinner 85 recipes
- Magnesium Rich 94 recipes
- Vitamin C Rich Indian recipes 118 recipes
- Healthy Indian Lunch Recipes 29 recipes
- Lactation 25 recipes
- Hyperthyroidism Diet 46 recipes
- Vitamin B3, Niacin Rich 41 recipes
- Vitamin E Rich 50 recipes
- Post Surgery Diet 42 recipes
- Lower Blood Pressure Desserts Sweets 14 recipes
- Selenium 27 recipes
- Phosphorus Rich Indian Recipes, Foods 74 recipes
- Copper 15 recipes
- Foods Rich in Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 22 recipes
- Vitamin B6 Diet 36 recipes
- Vitamin B9 Rich Folate 50 recipes
- B Vitamins 231 recipes
- Manganese Diet 32 recipes
- Thalassemia 18 recipes
- Marathoners, Endurance Athletes, Triathlete 225 recipes
- Detox Water, Fruit Infused Water 42 recipes
- Lactose Free Dairy Free 22 recipes
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids 32 recipes
- Phytonutrients 51 recipes
- Chronic Kidney Disease Indian recipes 12 recipes
- Selenium1 0 recipes
- Quick Snacks / Quick Starters 385 recipes
- Quick Breakfast Indian 132 recipes
- Quick Sabzis 117 recipes
- Quick Rotis / Parathas 46 recipes
- Quick Indian Sweets 139 recipes
- Quick Stir-Fries 51 recipes
- Quick Vegetarian Indian Soups 72 recipes
- Quick Chutneys 67 recipes
- Quick Vegetarian Rice, khichdi Recipes 56 recipes
- Indian snacks under 10 minutes 44 recipes
- Quick Indian Dips, Gravies & Sauces 103 recipes
- Quick Veg Indian Pizza 17 recipes
- Quick Veg Pasta 25 recipes
- Quick Pickles / Aachar 25 recipes
- Quick Dals / quick Kadhis 29 recipes
- Snacks under 5 minutes 33 recipes
- Quick Healthy Recipes 43 recipes
- Quick Pressure Cooker 46 recipes
- Quick Desserts 48 recipes
- Quick 3 Ingredients 63 recipes
- Quick Indian Desserts 17 recipes
- Quick 4 Ingredients 41 recipes
- Quick 5 Ingredients 41 recipes
- Kids Tiffin Box 318 recipes
- Recipes for Toddlers (1-3 Years) 31 recipes
- Sweet Recipes for Kids 453 recipes
- Recipes for Baby (10 to 12 Months) 14 recipes
- Quick Indian recipes for Kids 72 recipes
- Indian Breakfast Recipes for Kids 192 recipes
- Recipes for Weaning (8 to 9 months) 20 recipes
- Healthy Foods for Kids 194 recipes
- Snack Recipes for Kids 619 recipes
- Recipes Kids can make 36 recipes
- Kids After School 794 recipes
- Kids Jar Snacks 66 recipes
- Finger Foods for Babies, Toddlers and Kids 76 recipes
- Kids Weight Gain 43 recipes
- Kids Wraps and Rolls 23 recipes
- Kids Veg Pasta 27 recipes
- Kids Brain Boosting 68 recipes
- Protein rich food for kids 69 recipes
- Recipes for Weaning 13 recipes
- Kids Pizzas 30 recipes
- Babies, Toddler and Kids Iron Rich Foods 31 recipes
- High Fiber Foods for Kids 39 recipes
- Kids Noodles 37 recipes
- Kids High Energy Indian Foods 103 recipes
- Kids Calcium Rich Indian recipes 91 recipes
- Kids Recipes for Increasing Immunity 10 recipes
- Babies recipes, 6 to 18 months 31 recipes
- Kids Weight Loss 58 recipes
- Teething Recipes for Babies 10 recipes
- Cereals and Pulses for 8 to 9 months Baby 5 recipes
- Weaning foods at 7 months 8 recipes
- Indian Teen 315 recipes
- Starters / Snacks 2136 recipes
- Indian Breakfast Recipes 819 recipes
- Main Course Recipes 925 recipes
- Indian Salads 385 recipes
- Indian Desserts , Sweets 985 recipes
- Indian Soups 249 recipes
- Indian Beverages, Indian Drinks 483 recipes
- Indian Dinner 903 recipes
- Indian Dinner1 0 recipes
- Indian Lunch 830 recipes
- Side Dishes 449 recipes
- Indian Travel Food 433 recipes
- Indian Barbeque1 recipes 22 recipes
- Frozen Foods, Indian Freezer Recipes 67 recipes
- Whole Wheat Recipes 56 recipes
- Indian Comfort Foods 212 recipes
- Dinner Menus 56 recipes
- Easy Indian Veg 70 recipes
- Innovative Indian Recipes 27 recipes
- No Cook Indian 37 recipes
- Advanced Recipes 10 recipes
- Cakes with Eggs 13 recipes
- Microwave 230 recipes
- Oven 619 recipes
- Indian Steamer Recipes 102 recipes
- Kadai Veg 406 recipes
- Indian Barbeque Recipes 42 recipes
- Sizzler tray 15 recipes
- Mixer 566 recipes
- Pressure Cooker 315 recipes
- Tava 646 recipes
- Non-stick Pan 1394 recipes
- Appe Mould 17 recipes
- Pan 223 recipes
- Indian Freezer recipes, meals 56 recipes
- Deep Pan 148 recipes
- Non Stick Kadai Veg 203 recipes
- Refrigerator 176 recipes
- Waffle Indian recipes 6 recipes
- Handi 12 recipes
- Juicer and Hopper 64 recipes
- Grill 30 recipes
- Toaster 21 recipes
- Gas Toaster 7 recipes
- Steam 72 recipes
- No Cooking Veg Indian 335 recipes
- Vegetarian baked Indian recipes 380 recipes
- Boiled Indian recipes 129 recipes
- Deep Fry 259 recipes
- Indian Tawa 266 recipes
- Shallow Fry Indian 25 recipes
- Microwave1 173 recipes
- Saute 274 recipes
- Indian Pressure Cooker 171 recipes
- Stir-fry 100 recipes
- Roasting 0 recipes
