Help with Vanilla??--The Holy Grail Has Finally been Found with HappyVaper

[KevinD872]

Kevin--I am still on the hunt and it has been over a year now. Really wish I knew what the commercial e-liquid manufactures used.


Sun

I have no doubt that you have asked all suppliers (and less doubt that they refused to tell you). Would be nice to know. I recently got some zero nic vanilla juice and damn, it's pretty good.

[Brazilleon]

I am also a vanilla lover, but bought some Wilton Synthetic Vanilla from michaels based on recommendations in this thread. But I find it doesn't have the strong vanilla taste the JC juices have, it tastes more like wedding cake icing sugar, which makes sense as it was in the wedding cake section. 8)

I would love to have an overpowering vanilla flavor!!

[Angela]

Well there's three more vanilla flavourings (if anyone wants to try) - all water soluble - on flavourart's website: Flavourart Express shop

Traditional vanilla. The typical one for dessert.
Bourbon vanilla. The bean essence. Round, slightly spicy and smokey. For demanding users.
Tahity. So called by its origin. A nice vanilla taste with a sweet almond undertone.

[Sun Vaporer]

I have no doubt that you have asked all suppliers (and less doubt that they refused to tell you). Would be nice to know. I recently got some zero nic vanilla juice and damn, it's pretty good.

Kevin--the China manufactures are not talking and Johnson Creek has it under lock and key.!!!


Sun

[HaploVoss]

Are those both Lorann's?

Yep they were.

[KevinD872]

Kevin--the China manufactures are not talking and Johnson Creek has it under lock and key.!!!


Sun

Have you tried to get Chinese-made flavorings? Stands to reason the flavors they use might be manufactured there.

This will require more digging but this place sells "creamy vanilla" as well as "vanilla":
Food Flavour (Flavouring Essence) - China Food Flavours,Flavouring Essence,Food Flavor in Food Additive

[bonnienclyde]

I bought a bottle of Imitation Vanilla Extract by "Watkins"(not Wiltons) at Walmart. Ingredients on the bottle say:

Water, glucose,Propylene Glycol, Alcohol-8.75%, artificial colors, carmel color

This seems like it would be good to use since its PG, and has low alcohol? I am doing some experimenting right now with it. I've not seen this brand mentioned in this thread.But I assume imitation vanilla extracts are basically the same? Or is this going to turn out like all the other vanilla extract experiments(i.e. "chemical" taste, alcohol taste, etc)?

I have some Kent that is a little too harsh for me, so I am going to try cutting it with this and some glycerine to see if I can tone it down, and get maybe a little vanilla taste.

At the very least I can cut the Kent with the VG and get less harshness, right? I am really disappointed in the lack of results with vanilla experiments I've read on here. I LOVE vanilla and would love to buy or make one that tastes like a big, fat, vanilla milkshake!

[Scottes]

The alcohol taste of most extracts was brought up many months ago, but I'm not so sure it was fully discussed, so I'll add some thoughts.

Alcohol evaporates at approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To remove the alcohol, one would just need to bring the extract to about 170F and keep it there for a little while. I would do this in a double-boiler arrangement.


My UNTESTED THEORY about how to do this follows. Use at your own risk! I think I'm going to try this within the next few days, if I get a chance

Take the extract, preferably in a glass jar, and remove the cover
- Ideally, use a small Pyrex container, like a chemical beaker
Grab a small pot
Put something - a small plate? - on the bottom of the pot
- This will serve to keep the extract jar away from the hotter metal bottom of the pot
Place the bottle of extract on the plate/whatever
Fill the pot with water, at least halfway up the extract bottle
- Be careful not to "float" the extract bottle
Heat the pot of water slowly. Medium flame at best, 1/4 flame even better
Do not let the water boil! You really want to keep it below 180F
Test the temperature of the extract occasionally. Keep it 170-175
Add cold water to the pot when the level gets to low, or the extract gets too hot
- Add slowly, and do not let the cold water touch the hot extract bottle!
Once the extract hits 170, 5 or 10 minutes is all it should need to evaporate the alcohol
- It shouldn't hurt to leave it 15 or 20 minutes
- Theoretically, removing the alcohol will drop the height of extract in the bottom. 35% alcohol is 1/3, so if the height is reduce by 1/4 that should be enough.
- I wouldn't leave it at 170F for too long. 20 minutes?

The glass extract jar will have to cool slowly so that it doesn't crack. You could carefully remove it and let it air-cool. Or leave it in the pot for a couple hours. Do not cover the extract bottle until it is cool enough to easily hand-hold.


Worst case of this method is a ruined batch of vanilla extract, but I can't see how it would make it totally useless if you ever use it for baking.

At the very least your house should smell freaking fantastic.



AGAIN, the above is my untested THEORY. I'm no chemist, or chef, but I know quite a bit about alcohol due to my years of studying (and blogging) about rum. (See my sig below.) I have done many infusions over the years, and vanilla has always been one of my favorites, so I know a bit about vanilla, too. Again, I'm no expert, so use this info at your own risk.

Or, wait until I get a chance to test it and report back. If I never post again after Sunday night, DO NOT attempt the above.

[Scottes]

Frontier Natural Products makes a Vanilla Flavor that is alcohol-free.

Ingredients
Frontier Vanilla Flavor
Glycerin, Fair Trade Certified™ vanilla bean extractives and water.

$6.19 for 2oz
Vanilla Flavoring | Buy premium-quality Vanilla Flavor from Frontier.


Hmmm...

[Sun Vaporer]

Frontier Natural Products makes a Vanilla Flavor that is alcohol-free.

Ingredients
Frontier Vanilla Flavor
Glycerin, Fair Trade Certified™ vanilla bean extractives and water.

$6.19 for 2oz
Vanilla Flavoring | Buy premium-quality Vanilla Flavor from Frontier.


Hmmm...

Hummm is right Scottes--that is what I use for Vanilla and have to say it leaves a lot to be desired. But ease of use is great--just thin it out a little and vape it as it is VG and Vaniila extract with no alcohol.

I am waiting on some Vannilla Custard that Happy Vapor sent me---hopefully this will be the Holy Grail!!


Sun