All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you bake a lot, you’re constantly doling out vanilla extract—a teaspoon in chocolate chip cookies one day, a tablespoon in vanilla ice cream base the next. But have you ever stopped to ask: Where does vanilla extract come from? Or, wait a minute, what even is vanilla? We’ve got answers for you—like, newsflash, vanilla beans aren’t beans at all—below. Let’s begin:
I have a vanilla bean. Now what do I do?
To get to the seeds of the bean, use a paring knife to make a slit down the pod’s length, leaving the bottom intact. Open the sides like shutters to expose the grainy insides. Pressing gently, drag the flat side of the knife down the pod, gathering the seeds as you go. Then you’re ready to drop it into whatever sweet treat you’re cooking up.
To store unused vanilla beans, wrap them up tightly in plastic wrap or reusable Bees Wrap, and then place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to six months.
What’s this about beaver butts?
When it comes to imitation vanilla, there’s a whooole lot of talk about beaver anal glands. Beaver castoreum (the goo-like vanilla-scented secretion that comes from beavers’ castor sacs, located, yes, in close proximity to their anal glands) has been used as a food additive for much of the last century. It’s recognized as safe by the FDA and could, in theory, sneak onto ingredients lists under the label of “natural flavorings.” But the truth is you’re actually not likely to encounter it in your desserts. Global production is extremely limited, and it’s more commonly found in perfumes and cosmetics. When it comes to your average supermarket purchases, there’s no need to fret: Nearly all vanilla extracts are vegan—even the imitation ones.
Is there beaver anal juice in vanilla? Castoreum – what’s in our food?
Does artificial vanilla flavoring come from Beaver Butts?
No, artificial vanilla flavoring doesn’t come from beaver butts. Flavor scientists explain. Most commercial vanillin is synthesized from guaiacol — a natural compound in wood smoke and clove oil. It’s a myth that artificial vanilla flavoring comes from castoreum extracted from beaver castor sacs.
Do Beavers secrete a goo from their butts?
Beavers secrete a goo from their butts called castoreum. Castoreum has a vanilla scent and is sometimes used as an artificial flavoring in foods. Castoreum is and has been used to help mimic the flavor of vanilla, raspberry, and strawberry flavors in foods such as ice cream, chewing gum, pudding, and much more for over 80 years.
Are there Beaver secretions in Vanilla Ice Cream?
Castoreum, a substance from sacs near a beaver’s anus, has been used in human products for more than 2,000 years. Some wonder if it’s still an ingredient on today’s grocery shelves. Are there beaver secretions in your vanilla ice cream? The short answer: Probably not.
Is vanillin made from guaiacol?
Flavor scientists explain. Most commercial vanillin is synthesized from guaiacol — a natural compound in wood smoke and clove oil. It’s a myth that artificial vanilla flavoring comes from castoreum extracted from beaver castor sacs. Flavor chemists explain that artificial vanilla flavor is made from synthetic vanillin.