These tiny, sticky grains have a creamy, sweet flavor with notes of flowers, honey and caramel. They are incredibly aromatic, so they soothe the senses. You can eat them straight from the stick or add them to various desserts. They have many health properties. We’re talking about…vanilla.
A real vanilla pod is the dried pod of the vanilla orchid, which produces edible fruit. At first it was produced in South America, and over time in Mexico. The popular Bourbon vanilla is exported from Madagascar.
Firstly it is worth knowing the significant differences between real and artificial vanilla. The latter is called vanillin. So what’s the difference?
True vanilla has a thin, long, flexible, shiny, dark brown pod. It has an intense, sweet scent without any noticeable chemicals. We can buy it in many stores, but its price is quite high – it ranges from PLN 7 to PLN 14.
The popular vanilla sugar, on the other hand, is not made from real vanilla. It is made of artificial vanillin flavor, which no longer smells so intensely and tastes much worse.
Nothing stops you from making real vanilla sugar yourself. Just put a vanilla pod in the jar with sugar. It is worth choosing a healthier sweetener, such as xylitol or erythritol. After a dozen or so days, it will develop a wonderful, vanilla aroma.
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Vanilla impresses not only with its taste, but also with its health properties. Small, black grains have antioxidant propertiesbecause they contain antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Therefore, they delay the aging process of the body and protect against colds.
This product has a soothing effect on the body, even when eaten in small doses reduces stress and tension, calms the heart and nerves, and significantly improves mood. In addition, it strengthens the digestive system because it stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, thus accelerating digestion, but also relieves stomach problems, e.g. flatulence.
It is believed to have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to alleviate symptoms resulting from rheumatoid and degenerative changes.
Thanks to vanilla, we will stop snacking on sweetsbecause it is their great substitute, it suppresses the appetite for them. An interesting fact is that we consider it an aphrodisiac, which is why it strengthens the sexual drive and vitality of the body.
We can use vanilla in the kitchen in various ways. We can eat its seeds with yogurt, oatmeal or millet. It is worth sweetening coffee, tea and fruit cocktails with them.
This product goes great with chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Its truer version cannot be missing in desserts, i.e. crème brûlée or panna cotta. We recommend adding it to home baked goods, e.g. cakes, cookies, muffins. It also goes well with pancakes, puddings, creams and jams.
Vanilla can be eaten with fruit salads. In modern cuisine, it is added to fish or shrimp sauces. It tastes great in mixtures of spices, e.g. cinnamon, nutmeg and .
