How can we show people vanilla extract from different regions taste different? This was the question we pondered while launching our Single Origin Vanilla Assortment in the Fall of last year. With that thought in mind, we designed THIS oh so handy free taste test handout! This is a food science experiment that can be done with all ages and is accessible to all. Try this out at home with family and friends, other baking enthusiasts, and even try it out in classroom settings (might be fun to share with your favorite teacher). This hands on experiment will help develop a deeper appreciation for vanilla nuances plus you’ll find your favorite vanilla extract – that’s a pretty fun bonus! ;D
What’s included in the Vanilla Extract Taste Test handout?
It’s a detailed three page pdf that you can download and print.
- The first page gives some info on our single origin vanilla extracts along with the taste test recipe. It will break down how to do a blind taste test and a regular taste test experiment.
- The second page is more of a hands on section where people can guess which vanilla extract you’re tasting along with a section where you can write your thoughts. There are multiple discussion questions for inspiration too!
- The third page contains what we call a “Sensory Wheel Evaluation” or a “Flavor Wheel Profile”. It will have additional descriptive words you can use to describe each vanilla extract (plus additional flavors and extracts – like our pure fiori di sicilia flavor). Most fit into these eight categories (floral, creamy, fruity, etc.). At the bottom are some extra tips for folks taste testing!
I thought all vanilla extract tasted the same?
A lot of what causes vanilla extract, paste, beans, etc to taste different is based on the climate and soil in which the vanilla plants grow! Madagascar Bourbon will taste different from vanilla beans that come from Mexico or Papua New Guinea for example. Some soils are more acidic while others might have more floral or smoky notes (Indonesia vanilla extract tends to be more woody/smokey). When a product lists a specific region, it’s going to taste different from your mainstream vanilla extracts. There are blends where region doesn’t necessarily matter like when a product says “pure” or “gourmet” and those are still exceptionally delicious but when you want to really enhance the flavors already in a baked dessert or potentially even savory dishes, it’s nice to pick a more region focused vanilla extract. That’s why our single origin gift assortment is perfect for this test! It contains 4 – 1oz bottles with four different region specific vanilla extracts (Madagascar Bourbon, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and Tanzania). A 1oz bottle contains about 6tsp worth of vanilla extract so you’ll have plenty extra for baking after doing this test!
Fun fact: When you use Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract – it doesn’t actually have bourbon in it. Bourbon was the name given to the islands by the French in Madagascar in which a large portion of the worlds vanilla beans come from. You can find out more history about the origins of vanilla extract on our website here.
Is there a best time to taste test vanilla?
YES! There is and you’ll notice a significant difference when taste testing. The best time to taste test is before you eat any meals or snacks. We recommend staying away from anything super flavorful prior to taste testing like garlic, salted nuts, chocolate etc. (save those snackies for later after the test!). Your taste buds will be more active and will pick up more flavor notes. If you eat anything, we recommend waiting four hours before trying this test for the best sensory experience. Most of the taste testing we do at Rodelle is in the early morning around 9 or 10am.
Do I have to do this vanilla extract taste test with whipped cream?
For this handout that’s the one we recommend as it’s the easiest. You can try this out with sugar cookies or ice cream as well. We have plans to create a non-dairy focused vanilla taste test recipe as well in the future – if you’d like to be updated on when that happens later this year, follow us on socials or subscribe to our newsletter!
I can’t taste a difference in the vanilla extracts I’m trying? What should I do?
Everyone’s taste buds are different meaning some might be more sensitive to tasting flavors than others and again, timing of when you do this taste test is important. You could try bumping up the vanilla extract by 1/2 tsp in the whipped cream! You may get a more alcohol-y accent after each bite as vanilla extract is made with alcohol but the flavor notes might be stronger. Adults can handle it, kids will think it’s gross haha! Another tip is to add less or no sugar.
Can this test be done with other flavors?
For sure! You can use this taste test for any baking flavors or like if you want to compare products from different brands. It’s fun to do between vanilla paste, extract, and beans too. 🙂
If you have any questions or tried out this experiment for yourself or in a group setting, we’d greatly appreciate any feedback! You can email us at rodelle-marketing@adm.com or fill out our contact us page. Also, feel free to share on socials trying out this experiment and tag us (@rodellevanilla)!