Is pure vanilla extract REALLY better than imitation? Taste test of 10 products

My apologies to Baker's brand imitation vanilla. Sorry, not sorry.

What's the best vanilla? Is pure extract worth the price? Most of us don't have the time or money to buy 10 products and try them out, but I do, so I did. Results were both surprising and not surprising.

Sources:

0:00 Vanilla taste considerations
2:23 Product overview
3:41 Can you taste vanilla in chocolate chip cookies?
5:39 Sugar cookie test
9:49 Panna cotta test

Company names and logos are property of their respective owners, shown for illustrative and entertainment purposes only.

[ap]

People have no idea how much time this would take to bake all these cookies separately for these taste tests. Thanks for being so detailed. 👍🏽

[jesswinter]

I am SHOCKED you don’t have more subs. Your channel is amazing!

[helenachase]

So many haters commenting. So strange. Thank you sir for your hard wkrk. I for one appreciated the video

[purplegill]

I absolutely love everything about this video and I think I completely agree on one of your first statements about how culture and local cuisine has a _huge_ effect on what vanillas anyone may like best. My guess is that the reason Baker's got such high praise from ATK largely has to do with the testers in question being varied themselves but all of them could agree with the flavor of baker's compared to people liking the nuances of every other kind of vanilla. I would love to see someone do a similar test in a place with a completely different flavor profile/cuisine and see if they come to a similar or completely different conclusion.

[NobleBeastBooks]

I laughed when I noticed no numbers on the plates and then when you realized it. So funny!

[ARMTOAST]

amazing video! not usually one to click on self promo but i’m glad i did in this case, and glad you posted on the bravetart article

[jameskern]

I'd love to see how a homemade extract compared. Great video though!

[jeffjberry]

Incredible video! Deserves WAY more views!

[elenajimenezhernandez]

muy buen video, pero creo hay un error en la forma en como realizas la degustacion o la forma de probar las galletas,

[hydrofusion]

dude this was fantastic. You deserve way more subscribers! I would love to see you do a similar test with other extracts/flavor enhancers. Like cake batter extract, almond extract, peppermint extract, banana extract, maple, strawberry, pumpkin pie, etc. The weird food pairing stuff with different extracts would also be great. I would be interested to know what maple flavored rice or something would taste like. Keep up the great stuff

[chiefschicktx]

I'm not a super taster but I've tried the Mccormick, the Nielsen-Massey and the Bakers. I don't have a big preference between the first two but I don't care for the Bakers. Will I eat something made with it? Yes

Do I notice the difference and prefer the others? Also yes.

I've started to try making my own so I can try with different bean and alohol combinations.

Right now I use the Nielsen Massey unless I can't find it when I need it. I wonder if some people prefer the imitation because that's what they are used to. I used it for a long time because I was broke but when I switched to just Mccormick Mainly to see if it even mattered to me) the difference was night and day and I never looked back.

I'm not above buying generic/inexpensive if I can't tell the difference. Vanilla is one of things I can tell.

[happy_bubble]

Coffee in between bites can reset the pallet to start fresh each sample. Even if you just sniff the grinds.

[hummingbirdlady]

The Baker's contains sodium benzoate, a preservative, which some people can not dectect, but many others find unpleasant.

[lulu]

When i star baking i only use pure extract but people were complaining that its not vanilla enough even i was using alot so i switch to essence and never had complane ever again.

[chrisobleness]

Wish the tests were blinded up front. Preconceived notions can color your perception of the flavor, then you recognize the flavor in the blind test. Should fully blind a group of testers, don't even tell them what you are changing from cookie to cookie, then we can get a real sense of the value of various vanillas.

[odimendoza]

hi i just found your channel and I am doing the same thing, trying to experiment between vanilla extracts only but dont want to go out buying a whole lot of extracts, which 3 extracts would you recommend me experimenting for uses in a cold desert. thanks for what you do, i like your channel you've got a new subscriber.

[scenttosender]

Which brand of powder vanilla you used

[scottdc]

Did you happen to try the Mexican Danncy vainilla extract? I just bought two 1 liter bottles off of ebay for $19, it had great reviews. It doesnt smell like real vanilla but ive never smelled a water based vanilla extract. It has vanilla extractives as the main ingredient and even though it smells like imitation it does taste very good. I made some ice cream today with it to test the flavor, it was very good. If it isnt real vanilla it sure is the best alternative to it, have you tried that brand?

[dawsonadams]

Thank you for taking the time to do the science for me 😂

[elenajimenezhernandez]

prueba esta "vainilla Usumacinta", no es lo mismo un extracto que una oleoresina.