vanilla in Cozumel?

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Susan Prescott
We'll be on the 7/17 Western and I'm driving everybody nuts because the first item on my list in Cozumel is vanilla. I do a very large amount of baking, especially at Christmas and for various bake sales for soccer, basketball, band, etc. and I can't seem to keep it in the house. The last time I bought some at our local grocery store, I paid $5.99 for 2 fluid ounces. I was going to buy extra for gifts for my friends.

Can you use that vanilla for baking becuase to me it tastes nothing like the vanila extract you use for baking...I vbught a bottle of it in Cozumel and now have no idea what to do with it LOL....

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by AmyJ of Ca
I found this website...
http://www.vanilla.com/html/facts-mexican.html

I've had vanilla from Mexico and it was wonderful. Strong, but wonderful. There is quite a difference in the pure vanilla extract as opposed to the imitation vanilla that most supermarkets sell.

Now as for the information on the site above - is there another source that can confirm that information? I'm usually a little suspicious of any source of information that says "the products I sell are guaranteed to be excellent", meaning 'don't buy it in Mexico or anywhere else, buy it from me instead'. Seems a little self-serving.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Amberle 3,
This is why I was asking if anyone had any info regarding this. I just found that sight doing a search for vanilla in Mexico. I, too was skeptical about the info being that the site also sells vanilla also but I had heard the same thing that the site is talking about but I don't remember from where. (I am thinking that it was a cooking show.) I was hoping for someone to put my fears to rest so I woud feel safer buying it down there. We're going next year on the Mex Riv and would love to bring some home as gifts as well!! Hopefully someone who is a "vanilla expert" will know for sure.. Amy

 

[CPM]

My sister arrived today with my Cozumel Vanilla!
It's XEL-HA Vanilla Mexicana
It's a 16.90 FL OZ
there is a web site www.molinoreal.com
It was $8.00, she got it at the duty free shop near the port so she wouln't have to carry it around.
She said some stores downtown it too a $1.00 cheaper but I'm happy!!

 

[dznyacct]

Cheryl ~ Thanks for the information. I just put some bubble wrap and packing tape in my suitcase to transport my vanilla home. Thanks again!

 

[FoodLover]

I hate to tell you folks this, but it is true that most of the "vanilla" sold in Mexico is artificial, and some is toxic. If it's cheap, it is NOT real.

You can't tell from the flavor. In fact, Cook's Illustrated magazine did a taste test with natural and artificial vanilla and the tasters were shocked to discover they couldn't tell any difference. In fact, in some cases they liked the fake stuff BETTER than the real stuff. Here's a link to a summary of the article:

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/tastinglab/393.htm

I would never buy vanilla in Mexico... and I live 8 miles from the border, so I could easily do so. Frankly I won't buy any foodstuffs in Mexico, including processed foods, because a lot of them are unsafe. There is very poor oversight of food safety in Mexico due to corruption and lack of resources.

If a food item is imported from Mexico into the US, presumably it should be relatively safe, due to our import laws and better food safety oversight. Unfortunately that's not always true, either. In the past few years many Mexican candies have been pulled off US store shelves after they were found to be contaminated with lead. About 10 years ago a number of people died in the Southwestern US from eating Mexican cheeses that had been imported and sold in supermarkets here.

Here's another article about the potential for toxic ingredients in Mexican vanilla, by a well-known syndicated columnist who is known for doing his research:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011207.html

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Thanks Mary, that is what I thought. I knew I heard it somewhere but couldn't find an official, reliable source to refer to. Our local newspaper just did a multi-day article about the mexican candy and the high levels of lead and how children in the US(and Mexico) are being poisoned by these treats manufactured in Mexico. This is why I am so cautious about buying any food products from Mexico. You just don't know what you are getting. Amy