Details or Sample:
Testing the Vanilla Bean for Quality and Flavor

We´ve all heard of the vanilla bean. We know the taste, we know the aroma and we know that it can enhance the flavors of so many foods. What we don´t know, is the hidden process that goes into testing a vanilla bean for quality and flavor.

First off, it might help to explain some of the different flavors that we see from the world"s finest vanilla beans. The flavors differ because of where the bean was produced, and the process used to cure it.

The highest producing country is Madagascar, whose end product is a smooth and creamy, with a sweet mellow flavor.

... skipping ahead ...

So we know about some of the flavors, but what is the best way to go about testing it?

First you have to know where the flavor comes from. The deepest flavor can be found in the pod itself. Inside it are thousands of tiny seeds that can be scraped from the dark pulp which makes up the inside of the bean. These seeds are the major source of the vanilla flavoring and the amount we can get from your average two inch vanilla bean is equivalent to about a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract.

A test that works well to prove the taste of the vanilla bean is the "sugar test". If you are to place the bean into a large bag of sugar, within days, the vanilla flavor should have spread throughout the bag reaching all the way through. Any good vanilla bean would have no problem permeating through the sugar, and would give it a nice new flavor.

Finally, it´s a good idea to test for the quality of the bean. There are several ways to do this, but the ones I"ve found work well include judging the look and feel of the pod. It should be plump, yet still flexible. For the larger beans, the knot test works well. You know it"s fresh, if it can be tied in a knot.

... article continues ...

Purchase this content for your website...

Pricing:
Usage:	$10	[Add to Cart]
Unique:	$25	[Add to Cart]
Full Rights:	$50	[Add to Cart]

Downloads: 0
Written by: Nessiee
Available File Types:Text
Words: 530