http://www.vanillareview.com/2008/new-extract-smells-harsh/ Vanilla bean and extract tutorial. Spice gallery and reviews. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:22:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.vanillareview.com/2008/new-extract-smells-harsh/comment-page-1/#comment-2264 Natty Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:25:52 +0000 http://www.vanillareview.com/?p=1234#comment-2264 I wonder what quality of liquor is being used? I've tasted homemade extract made with very inexpensive vodka and it's a shame what it does. I use Smirnoff exclusively for all my infused vodkas and vanilla extract. It's unnecessary to use anything higher grade and anything cheaper is too close to rubbing alcohol, unfortunately. We drink a lot of vodka round these parts and are probably more attuned to the differences than those who may not drink hard alcohol very often. I wonder what quality of liquor is being used? I’ve tasted homemade extract made with very inexpensive vodka and it’s a shame what it does. I use Smirnoff exclusively for all my infused vodkas and vanilla extract. It’s unnecessary to use anything higher grade and anything cheaper is too close to rubbing alcohol, unfortunately. We drink a lot of vodka round these parts and are probably more attuned to the differences than those who may not drink hard alcohol very often.

]]> http://www.vanillareview.com/2008/new-extract-smells-harsh/comment-page-1/#comment-494 VBL007 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:56:51 +0000 http://www.vanillareview.com/?p=1234#comment-494 Both individuals wrote of a harsh smell or a harsh taste. I've never had a harsh taste or smell from my homemade extracts using Ian's "recipe" of 30 grams (one ounce) of vanilla beans to 250 ml (one cup) alcohol (vodka). Any less beans and it is vanilla tinged alcohol. I've used vanilla beans from at least 6 different sources or companies. I agree with Ian that the harsh SMELL could be from insufficient marinating. Please be sure to use the proper amount of vanilla beans and to shake the bottle and let it marinate for 8 weeks. The harsh TASTE could come from the use of very harsh alcohol with insufficient vanilla beans and insufficient marinating time. Or, it could from tasting the extract without sugar in the test medium. Any extract, without the added sugar in the test medium might taste harsh. I like to taste my extract by placing a teaspoonful of extract in one-half cup of milk to which I've added a teaspoon of sugar. I make all of my extracts in glass jars because I don't want to risk any contamination from plastic containers or bottles. I hope you will let Ian and the readers of VanillaReview know the outcomes of your efforts. Both individuals wrote of a harsh smell or a harsh taste. I’ve never had a harsh taste or smell from my homemade extracts using Ian’s “recipe” of 30 grams (one ounce) of vanilla beans to 250 ml (one cup) alcohol (vodka). Any less beans and it is vanilla tinged alcohol. I’ve used vanilla beans from at least 6 different sources or companies.
I agree with Ian that the harsh SMELL could be from insufficient marinating. Please be sure to use the proper amount of vanilla beans and to shake the bottle and let it marinate for 8 weeks.
The harsh TASTE could come from the use of very harsh alcohol with insufficient vanilla beans and insufficient marinating time. Or, it could from tasting the extract without sugar in the test medium. Any extract, without the added sugar in the test medium might taste harsh.
I like to taste my extract by placing a teaspoonful of extract in one-half cup of milk to which I’ve added a teaspoon of sugar.
I make all of my extracts in glass jars because I don’t want to risk any contamination from plastic containers or bottles.
I hope you will let Ian and the readers of VanillaReview know the outcomes of your efforts.

]]>