Hello Everyone!
My daughter is going to Cancun this saturday, and I wanted to ask about the vanilla extract. Is there a certain brand or something specific I should tell her about which one to get?
I know there are several of you out there that swear by it, and I want to make sure I tell her the right thing. (This is the first time any of us have ever been there!)
TIA
Sherry
dancy is a good one.. make sure its clear though so you can use it in icings of couse
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-5987-mexican.html+vanilla
I knew there was a long debate with a lot of information on this topic and the above link is it. Please read throughly as I think there is a lot of good information in there and a lot of things to consider.
There are more topics on it just do a search in the forums for "mexican vanilla" just make sure you click the box "search for all terms"
Here is another that looked like it had good information, but i didn't have enough time to read all the way through it and check out all the links.
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-18423-mexican.html+vanilla
I hope this helps!
Leily
I did a search on vanilla's not too long ago - be very careful. The Danncy brand DOES contain coumarin (there is a post from the FDA about it being confiscated and destroyed if brought across the border for sale) There are some good mexican vanilla's out there, but research the brands first.
You can find the Danncy vanilla on ebay, which makes me wonder if they have changed their production to eliminate the use of coumarin. 
You can also find Molina® Old Fashion Mexican Vanilla on ebay which is said to be registered with the FDA and does not have coumarin.
kos
Just because it is sold on ebay does not mean it is ok. I can get Molina here in my town.....(which was not on the list from the FDA for having coumarin) I have it in the cupboard right now, it is not that great, IMO. Danncy is clearly on the FDA list for having coumarin in it.
I have Danncy vanilla brought back to me all of the time from a friend who goes to Mexico a lot. So, either it does contain coumarin (or whatever) and they let it across the border, or it doesn't contain it and they let it across the border. It's by no means "smuggled" across so I'm not sure what to tell you. It's good stuff though. I don't use nearly as much as I would other vanilla either, it's pretty strong! I don't use the clear kind either. I just add icing whitener, or a tiny little dab of violet Americolor to get it back to white.
Edited to add: I only use it in things I make for myself/my family.
I must be missing something regarding purchasing cheap Mexican vanilla and taking the risk that it could seriously harm you. From what I am told, if the Mexican vanilla does not have on it, Coumarin -free, then it is wise not to touch it.
I will never forget the Cook's Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen that did a taste testing on vanilla, both pure and imitation and ranging from very expensive to cheap (imitation.) Most of the testers preferred the cheap imitation in a blind tasting, and most could not tell the difference from the expensive to the imitation when used in baked goods.
You can buy a 16oz bottle of clear imitation vanilla for $4 online, I just did. I would rather buy this than something that has the chance of being toxic, lol.
I went to Mexico two years ago and bought a bottle of clear vanilla. It definitely tastes different that vanilla made in the US. I have no idea if it has the bad stuff in it. I am going to check when I get home!! If it does, I have been poisoning a lot of people.
It would more than likely take a lot of it to actually "poison" someone. And about the stuff getting across the border..... IMO they aren't going to check or care if it is an individual bringing one bottle - I am sure they are talking about the folks that take cases of it. You can use it if you want to, but I decided not to.
if something is banned, customs will take it away from you it they catch you. however if you don't declare it, they have no way of knowing you have it unless you are searched. and they don't have the manpower to search everyone. That's how the stuff gets into the US even if it is banned.
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