Where has all the Vanilla Essence gone?!

aviendha

Hi - just wondering if anyone can help me... I have tried about 10 shops around south county Dublin and NOT ONE had vanilla essence... oh there was red colouring, rum essence, lemon essence.. but no vanilla essence.

Finally asked the shop man and he said they haven't been stocked in Vanilla Essence in weeks, and that many people were having difficulty sourcing it...

So... does anyone know where I can find some premium essence!?!!!

olaola

I think you're probably looking for vanilla extract. Vanilla essence is a synthetic version, which can be a bit unpleasant!

BTW - you can get it in Fallon & Byrne.

aviendha

Nope - just looking for plain ol' boring liquid Goodalls Vanilla Essence to use in baking, for things like Pavlova, Chocolate Brownies etc.... some of the shops do have the vanilla pods, but this isn't what I need for baking... what form does the "extract" take - is it liquid/powder/pod/other??

Alun

In broad terms, vanilla extract is a liquid, extracted from real vanilla pods, and vanilla essence, also a liquid, is a man-made synthetic version called vanillin in an ethyl-alcohol base, although the term 'essence' can sometimes be used to describe what is actually 'extract'.

The extract is the thing to have really, and makes the essence taste pretty awful when you've experienced both, although it is a bit more expensive.

aviendha

Thanks for the insight Alun, wasn't aware of Vanilla Extract but must certainly investigate F&B this evening - thanks y'all!

biko

Easiest is probably just to buy it online and have it sent to you.

Dizzyblonde

Vanilla extract is far superior - I usually get people to bring me back a bottle from the USA since it's so much cheaper over there.

You could just keep a few vanilla pods in a large jar/bag of caster sugar and it will be beautifully vanilla flavoured.

cozmik

Marks and Spencer usually have organic vanilla extract in stock.

Pigletlover

Vanilla extract is much nicer, and Goodall's have one which isn't too expensive, normally you can get it in any supermarket, but I seen on my list of favourites in Tesco that it's currently not available, so maybe there's some problems with shops getting vanilla essence/extract in stock??

Tar.Aldarion

I don't know if I have been eating extract or essence but it is called essence and it is lovely. Don't know ehre the missus gets it though, probably some health shop.

Toto Wolfcastle

Yeah, health shops stock it. We get ours in Ballymaloe, although I've seen it elsewhere.

dordali

I had same problem few weeks ago. Couldn't find it anywhere and tried a good few shops in Galway. Very strange. In end my mum had some ....so had to borrow.

Alun

Here are some interesting articles I found ...

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-692040/Grinch-didn-t-steal-white.html

http://www.mccormick.com/content.cfm?id=11464

http://www.afrol.com/articles/13754

It would appear that in recent years, there have been problems with the harvest, resulting in shortages and high prices, but this years harvest looks to be a good one.

Magic Monkey

Teso stock really nice Nielsen Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla (here) not in their "Baking" sections, but in the "Speciality Foods" section, with all the things like dried lemon grass, star anise, etc. Try looking there!

Toto Wolfcastle

Magic Monkey wrote: »

Teso stock really nice Nielsen Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla (here) not in their "Baking" sections, but in the "Speciality Foods" section, with all the things like dried lemon grass, star anise, etc. Try looking there!

Yeah that one is great and it lasts for ages.

SnowMonkey

OsciiBoscii wrote: »

You could just keep a few vanilla pods in a large jar/bag of caster sugar and it will be beautifully vanilla flavoured.

thats what i do , and 1/4 of a teaspoon of that in your morning coffee is soooooooooo good...:cool::cool::cool:

daiixi

In case anyone is interested, I saw some vanilla essence in Tesco on Lower Baggot Street yesterday.