Flavor substitutes for DA/AP flavours(vanilla custar and similar ones)

[RainZG]

Due to the recent rant about DA/AP levels in juices from different manufactures I also updated my list of flavors I am using and found few that contain either Acetoin or Acetylpropionyl.

As we are all aware(at least I was) that some custard flavors are having them I decided that regardless to flavours having them I will use them in my mixes(I am mixing juice only for my self).

Now, I started to look for flavors substitutes which would not contain any of DA/AP s**t.

So idea of this thread is to share experience which flavor DA/AP free would be good to use instead current ones with DA/AP.

This is list of flavors I am using at the moment and they have, according to TPA site, some levels of Acetoin or Acetylpropionyl.

Bavarian cream
Boysenberry
Cinnamon sugar cookie
Coconut extra
Graham cracker clear
Huckleberry
Marshmallow
Sweet cream
Vanilla bean ice cream
Vanilla custard - substitute is Cappela vanilla custard v2

For rest of them I am still trying to find what to use instead.
Share your experience.

 

[AndriaD]

First off, the Capella Vanilla Custard v2 is TOTAL GARBAGE -- it might as well have a flashing neon sign: ARTIFICIAL! ARTIFICIAL! Just horrible.

Now... Capella's Sweet Cream is EXCELLENT... and as far as I know or can tell, it's diketone-free. Put a drop or two into 2% milk, makes it taste just like whole milk.

TFA's Vanilla Swirl is excellent; it's their Vanilla Custard flavor, sans diketones. Their DX Bavarian Cream is pretty good; probably not great as a stand-alone, but at no more than 6%, in a mix with the CAP Sweet Cream and TFA Vanilla Swirl, it's very good.

If you mix the Vanilla Swirl with the DX Bavarian, it makes a perfect vanilla custard flavor. You would also need sweetener of course, because it's TFA; their flavors are building blocks, not whole recipes.

Andria

 

[RainZG]

Thanks for info about cappela sweet cream, that is one of the flavors I am using in few of my recipes.
And info about DX bavarian and vanilla swirl cream is great, much much appriciated

 

[AndriaD]

Yeah finding the good flavors to make good recipes seems to be the hardest part; sometimes user recommendations can help, but not everyone tastes the same things the same way, so a lot of trial and error is required.

I've also tried the TFA Whipped Cream; it's diketone-free, but does contain triacetin, which as far as i can tell doesn't seem to be hazardous at these very small quantities, *perhaps* only slightly hazardous even with high industrial-level exposure. It's not bad, but a little weak; if you mix in some CAP Sweet Cream, maybe some TFA Sweetener, it becomes more realistic.

As for other diketone-free flavors I've tried: the CAP Hazelnut v2 isn't bad, but heavy on the acetyl pyrazine, which some don't care for. It's actually kinda smoky, so I add a bit to my "Smocha" recipe. I recently got some TFA DX Hazelnut, which I haven't yet tried; it smells somewhat more subtle; there's some AP, for the nuttiness, but perhaps more genuinely "hazelnutty". The TFA Cinnamon Danish DX is also heavy on the AP; I got some TFA Cinnamon Spice to try and doctor it up a bit, but haven't tried that yet. Apparently the Cinnamon Spice is the bakery type rather than the cinnemaldehyde (redhots) type.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Oh another one occurred to me, though I suspect my reaction to it may be quite individual, because others seem to like it; the TFA Malted Milk. It's diketone-free, but to me it tastes like plastic more than anything else, just something artificial.

Andria