Vanilla Extract

[evaelisabeth]

So I go this idea from a youtube in the States https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ_C7InOfRR6KIe7G90wTZA

Homemade Vanilla Essence, it will take 18 months to 2 years to mature but if I start a couple of bottles now I'll have homemade vanilla essence by next Yule. It's dead simple 3 split Madagascar Vanilla Pods per 500ml vodka. For the first month shake every day, 2nd month shake twice a week, 3rd month shake once a week and keep doing that in perpetuity till it's done. Start a new batch at the same time every year and you will be swimming in tasty vanilla essence in no time.

Comments

[evaelisabeth]

This kind of thing is used in medicine all the time, it's called a tincture, the alcohol pulls all the chemicals out of the plant matter. The vanilla flavour seems to do well maturing for a long time. What aromas would you be interested in preserving? I guess one could try almond essence?

[korpikuusi]

Almond was the first that came to mind. Maybe orange? Rose?

[evaelisabeth]

Citrus usually doesn't have that long a lifespan, it's more fleeting and I think roses are too delicate to stand up to the alcohol. When extracting their essential oils you have to use fat if you are doing it by hand. It's a fascinating process where you spread a neutral fat over glass, gently press the rose petals into it and then just keep replacing the petals until the scent is in the fat.