Mini Vanilla Tasting

The Vanilla Extract Tasting Kit

The Three Small Bottles

I’m not much of a clothes shopper. So, it’ll probably come as no surprise that I’ve avoided the behemoth outlet center, Woodbury Commons, for several years. Yet, once I found out that Williams-Sonoma had a store on the premises, I knew that a visit was in order.

That’s how my husband, Koby, and I found ourselves in Central Valley, New York a couple of weekends ago. I must say, the crowds did not a relaxing day make, but I did walk away with some booty from Williams-Sonoma, including a Nielsen-Massey tasting kit of three vanilla extracts (originally $32, on sale for $20).

If you’re suffering from sticker shock, know that anything with real vanilla is pricey — and for good reason. Vanilla comes from the flowers of orchids, and — since these flowers open only one day a year — can only be harvested then. Plus, about five pounds of vanilla pods yield only one pound or so after the several-month-long curing process.

Tonight, while our 2 1/2-year-old son, Max, dined on his bedtime snack (on tonight’s menu: watermelon, wholesome honey cookies, and warm milk), I sat down with the tasting kit. Max watched, stupefied, as I began sniffing the brown, six-ounce bottles. Each bottle featured vanilla extract with a different origin: Mexico, Tahiti, or Madagascar. While I photographed the bottles for this blog entry, Max asked, “What are you doing, Mommy?” “Smelling vanilla,” I told him. He didn’t seem to think I was crazy. After all, Max always asks for vanilla in his oatmeal.

The Mexican vanilla smelled strong, and brought to mind baby powder and flowers. The taste reminded me of caramel, with some bitterness and cedar notes. Meanwhile, the Madagascar, which the packaging describes as “the king of vanillas,” smelled similarly, but its aroma was less strong and was evocative of citrus. The taste, too, was reminiscent of orange.

The Tahitian was my favorite, probably because it was simultaneously complex and subtle. Very different from the other two, it smelled like butterscotch, with a bit of pine and maple syrup. The taste featured hints of toasted oak and caramelized sugar. According to the box, Tahitian vanilla is extremely delicate, retaining its flavor most when not exposed to much heat.

All in all, smelling and drinking the vanilla extract was extremely pleasurable. The liquid flavoring is a bit like a feminine, luxurious version of Whisky (after all, natural vanilla extract consists of ethyl alcohol, in addition to water, sugar, and vanilla bean extractives). While I put my 10 1/2-month-old son, Abe, to bed, I hoped the scent of vanilla on my breath would bring on sweet dreams (maybe of rice pudding with vanilla beans?).