Where Does Vanilla Flavoring Come From? Why Is It Special?

Sloowmoee posted an interesting video on the TikTok platform regarding drinking a vanilla latte. He decided to find the source of Vanilla essence and flavors in Google. He also asked the viewer of his video to drink the tasty vanilla latte and capture a video of their expression after exploring where vanilla flavors come from. Today, this video has become viral. 

As a user of Google, you can search where does vanilla flavoring comes from right now. In the top search results, there is a topic about “Beaver Butts Emit Goo Used for Vanilla Flavouring” This thick brown secretion is recognized as castoreum beavers emit. This is known for its vanilla scent and musky nature. Food scientists worldwide use it for including in their different recipes.  

Read the National Geographic article  

Many people nowadays search for the vanilla source in Google and get a list of results almost immediately. One of the top-ranking results is about the article of National Geographic from 2013 with the title “Beaver butts emit goo used for vanilla flavoring”. This trend went viral. This interesting article reveals how the chemical compound castoreum can be successfully used for the overall vanilla flavorings.  

In castor sacs of beavers, castoreum is produced. 

They are located between the base of the tail and the pelvis that is exactly next to the anal glands. There is a brown slime-like element that has a vanilla-like and musky scent due to the diet of bark and leaves consumed by beavers. 

In general, beavers use this scent to mark their territory and such things can be milked from anesthetized beavers. It is used as a flavoring or scent in perfumes and foods. FDA in the USA lists castoreum as a generally regarded safe additive. Many manufacturers throughout the world make use of the vanilla flavor in food and perfumes for over 80 years as per a 2007 study revealed in the International Journal of Toxicology.   

 

Read Also:How to Start a Catering Business: A Basic Guide

You may worry about where does vanilla flavoring comes from at this time. You do not need to worry as you have almost never ingested any. You have to keep in mind that it is very difficult to receive in sizeable quantities and it is not kosher. It is used in various candles and perfume products. However, it is never used in foods and beverages. 

Anal secretions of Beavers 

Castoreum is the classy and antique term, a bizarre thing, and an important element in the preparation of delicious food and beverages. Nadia Bernstein wrote in 2018 regarding castoreum. She reveals that it comes from the castor sacs available near the anal glands. This yellowish oily fluid and its overall fragrance come from the food items consumed by the beaver. The vanilla is the natural essence of the beaver. 

Wildlife specialists make certain emissions of special fragrance from the butt of beavers. The castoreum is very difficult to receive as per National Geographic. This is because beavers must be carefully anesthetized and then the castor sac milked. 

On the other hand, it is rare to get the vanilla flavor sourced from the beavers in food. It is used in fragrances emitted from the lotion and also candle wax.  

The overall recognition of natural castoreum 

The castoreum was used to make flavors and perfumes in the early 20th century. It was an important element in the ice creams, drinks, cakes, and other things. Though it was not the main ingredient, it was used as it brought out the flavor well. 

On the other hand, natural castoreum was considered by many people worldwide as not to be kosher. Synthetic flavors of vanilla became popular and the order of the day. 

The main reason behind the viral nature of the vanilla flavor source 

Many men and women throughout the world found that the vanilla essence was emitted from the butts of beavers and become disgusted and shocked. This was because they were unable to handle this fact. 

They spit out their favorite vanilla ice creams and lattes. 

The vanilla from castoreum is not acceptable and many people stopped using vanilla-flavored foods and beverages. Many people decided not to ingest this type of vanilla essence in any situation.  

The source of vanilla flavoring in food and drinks  

The majority of vanilla flavoring in foods and beverages in our time is synthetic. The organic compound found in vanilla beans is available in the synthetic version of vanillin which gives vanilla extract its flavor. It is used mainly and more than the natural extract.  

You have to know and remember that where does vanilla flavoring comes from and how to make an informed decision to buy and consume vanilla flavored foods and beverages. 

Guaiacol is aromatic oil derived from guaiacum. It is used to make artificial vanillin. Other things used to make artificial vanillin are lignin found in bark and wood creosote. All users of social media seek the stomach-churning origins of vanilla extract. 

They record themselves before and after googling where does vanilla flavoring come from? This is because search engines like Google have been freaking out regarding vanilla flavoring’s origins.  

The viral video about this topic from Sloowmoee attracts many users of TikTok and other social networking websites. In that particular video, the author sips a vanilla latte due to the mesmerizing taste of vanilla he starts Google with the question “Where Does Vanilla Favour comes”.

Once he was able to find the answer and read from the search engine result page, he immediately starts shouting “No More Vanilla”. This video attracts more viewers because of the funny act. Likes and comments poured by the viewers so far. 

Summing it Up

In general, more than 20 million pounds of vanilla are naturally harvested from real vanilla beans each year. Many kids and teens like vanilla-flavored foods and drinks. Many known as all vanilla flavored things and vanilla essence extracts come from the vanilla pods. People who are unaware of this fact learn and create awareness for others who don’t know.

There are non-plant methods of making artificial vanilla flavorings. For example, the scents from the beavers’ anal glands are used in vanilla flavoring as a chemical compound. 

The castor sac of a beaver produces the substance Castoreum available between the base of the tail and the pelvis.