Vanillin

Vanillin is a spice with a pleasant, sweet smell that is extracted from the fruit. vanilla. It is a colorless powder consisting of small crystals. Vanillin is used for the production of baked goods and confectionery, as well as for the creation of perfume compositions.

Vanillin is extracted from a plant called flat leaf vanilla. This flower belongs to the orchid family. Vanilla is an evergreen climbing plant. As it grows, it wraps around tree trunks. Its leaves are large, ovate, pointed at the end. The inflorescences are of a very unusual shape - they remotely resemble a splayed hand. Flowers about 6 cm in size, usually painted yellow or green. The seeds ripen in long pods, from which the spice is subsequently extracted.

Vanilla is native to the West Indies, a group of islands located in the Caribbean. At the beginning of the 19th century, this plant was discovered by the Englishman Henry Charles Andrews, and over the next 200 years, vanilla spread to greenhouses around the world. At present, the largest amount of flat leaf vanilla is grown in the southern states of the United States, in Central America and in the north of South America, since the climate is most suitable for this flower there.

Vanillin is extracted from vanilla seeds that ripen in the pods. First, the seeds are treated with boiling water, then a long process begins, during which the seeds are alternately heated in the sun and steamed in plastic containers. This process takes about two weeks, after which the seeds darken and become dark brown. Then, the seeds are dried and simply kept for several months so that the smell intensifies.

For the production of vanillin, the following types of vanilla are cultivated today:

• Vanilla is fragrant. It grows in Mexico, Indonesia, the Caribbean and Madagascar. Differs in large inflorescences. It has a rich, "warm" aroma.
• Antillean vanilla. It grows in the countries of Central America, at an altitude of 0.5 km above sea level. Most often used in the form of an extract.
• Vanilla Tahitian. The place of cultivation of this plant, which is the result of crossing the two species described above, is French Polynesia. This species is grown not only to obtain vanillin, but also for decorative purposes.

This is how natural vanillin is made, but most of the spice sold in stores is artificial vanillin. It is made from different raw materials through synthesis.

Most of the spice sold in stores is artificial vanillin. It is made from different raw materials through synthesis. The possibility of synthesizing vanillin was discovered at the end of the 19th century in Germany by Wilhelm Haarmann and Ferdinand Tiemann. The production of synthetic vanillin was the first step towards the creation of artificial flavors.Currently, artificial vanillin can be obtained from a wide variety of substances, including eugenol, lignin, and petrochemical feedstocks.

Vanillin, obtained by synthesis, belongs to the group of flavors identical to natural ones. This means that it has the same chemical structure as natural vanillin and can be used as a food product. Flavor identical to natural, in contrast to artificial flavor, is found in materials of animal and vegetable origin.

The difference in flavor between synthesized vanilla and natural vanilla is actually quite significant. According to research, in vanilla smell there are four hundred different components and vanillin is just one of them. Therefore, the aroma of real vanilla is much richer and more multifaceted than the smell of an artificial substitute.

• white or colorless powder;
• sweet aroma;
• bitter taste.

Nutritional value and calorie content per 100 grams of product

The composition of natural vanillin includes:

• essential oil;
• gluco-vanillin;
• tannin;
• cinnamon ether.

In specialized stores selling professional bakery and confectionery products, vanilla can be purchased in a variety of forms: in pods, in powder, as well as in the form of an extract or essence. Synthesized vanillin is sold at any grocery store.

A quality product should have a strong, rich aroma.If you buy vanilla beans, make sure they are long, soft, and bend well.

• soothes and relaxes;
• is a good antidepressant;
• has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects;
• considered a natural aphrodisiac;
• normalizes metabolism;
• helps relieve allergy symptoms;
• has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• is an antimicrobial agent.

• may cause a severe allergic reaction, manifested in irritation of the skin and mucous membranes.

Vanilla essential oil has a strong, spicy-sweet aroma that lasts for years. It has found application in medicine, cosmetology and aromatherapy. Vanilla oil is a part of many cosmetics and perfumes. Not only is it an excellent fragrance, but it also has a calming and rejuvenating effect. The beneficial properties of this oil allow it to be used to combat various diseases. Vanilla essential oil can be used orally, inhaled or in aroma lamps, or added to a bath or massage mixture.

• vanillin is added to rich pastries to give it a special flavor;
• vanillin is an essential component of many recipes for sweet creams and sauces;
• housewives often add vanillin to berry and fruit jams;
• most confectionery products, including chocolate, caramel, soufflé, etc., contain vanillin;
• sometimes vanillin is used to flavor alcoholic beverages, such as liqueurs and some varieties of vodka;
• vanillin is added to dairy and curd products to make them more fragrant.

Take 4 eggs and separate the whites from the yolks.Slowly beat the whites, gradually mixing in a glass of sugar and a pinch of vanilla. After that, without stopping whisking, pour the yolks into the resulting mass. Then, kneading the dough from the bottom up, add a glass of sifted flour. Then set the oven temperature to 200 degrees and let it warm up. While the oven is heating up, prepare the baking dish. The bottom can be oiled or lined with parchment paper. The cake should be baked for 20-25 minutes.

Beat in a homogeneous mass 2/3 of a standard package of butter, 170 grams of cottage cheese and 1 tsp. vanillin. Beat at low speed. Then add a glass of powdered sugar and beat the mixture again, this time gradually increasing the speed to maximum. Cream is ready!

Natural vanillin can be used as an aid in the fight against the following diseases:

• rheumatic pains;
• digestive disorders;
• fever;
• mental disorders;
• depression;
• sleep disorders;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• skin inflammation;
• poor health on critical days;
• menstrual irregularities;
• intestinal colic.

Many modern weight loss systems include vanilla, not as a food supplement, but as a powerful antidepressant. Inhaling the sweet aroma of vanilla helps fight bad moods, relieves anxiety and calms the nerves. In addition, when inhaling this smell, a person produces hormones that block the feeling of hunger.

If you dilute a bag of vanillin in water and sprinkle your clothes and skin with this solution, you can safely relax in nature without fear of an invasion of midges, as the sweet smell repels these insects.

• Natural vanillin is considered one of the most expensive spices in the world.
• Some Indian tribes used vanilla beans instead of money.