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The World Is Facing A Natural Vanilla Shortage. This Guy Says He Will Fix That By Producing Vanilla From Corn Fiber
Forbes ^ | Apr 15, 2020 | Igor Bosilkovski

Posted on 04/18/2020 2:14:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The legend says that vanilla was introduced to Europe by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, who had seen the Aztec Emperor Montezuma drink his xocolatl (sort of a chocolate drink) with a bit of vanilla. The Mesoamerican flavoring gained massively in popularity in the 19th century, when botanists found a way to hand-pollinate it, which allowed for it to be grown around the world.

Today, the vast majority of vanilla (some 60%-80%) comes from the African island of Madagascar, and it is the second most expensive spice (only behind saffron) in the world, mostly because it’s difficult to produce. However, at the moment there is a real shortage of natural vanilla, as the vanilla bean cannot meet the demand due to challenging growing conditions, labor exploitation, and deforestation in Madagascar.

Dr. Ian Klein claims he can solve that by producing natural vanilla from the abundant corn fiber.

The 2015 Under 30 honoree and a PhD in Chemistry from Purdue University, has been working on this issue for several years as a Chief Technology Officer of Santa Barbara-based Spero Renewables. The company currently has two pending patents on natural vanilla production (one of which is late stage), and is in the process of raising a $1.5 million seed round which they hope to close in the next several months.

“Consumers today are demanding natural and sustainable products, especially in the food industry where they want ingredients that they know rather than artificial flavorings,” Klein says.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: cornfiber; cornvanilla; madagascar; sperorenewables; vanilla
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To: pbear8

We have four bottles sitting in the pantry. Easy peasy.


21 posted on 04/18/2020 3:15:35 PM PDT by Ben Hecks
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To: pbear8; cherry

I like colorless artificial vanilla, too. That’s been out of stock for a while.


22 posted on 04/18/2020 3:19:14 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Make an animal friend today!)
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To: nickcarraway

Foodies learned about this coming pockey-clips a few years ago.

Do without and dream about scraping those tiny flecs out of dark brown pods, instead of trying the “vanilla flavouring” in the big bottle on the other shelf with the real low price.

You will thank me.

It is so very gross. Not even usable for a dash into oatmeal.


23 posted on 04/18/2020 3:26:00 PM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: NorthWoody

I don’t see the need for corn made when Mexico can just increase production to meet demand. We use the Mexican vanilla.

Besides, the next thing you know, when they find they can make vanilla out of corn, it will become another gasoline mandated additive.


24 posted on 04/18/2020 3:30:29 PM PDT by Cold Heart (.)
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To: nickcarraway
Natural Vanilla comes from the vanilla bean. Anything else is artificial vanilla flavoring. And it is all over the place.
25 posted on 04/18/2020 3:30:33 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches when the fire truck shows up & there's nobody else to blame)
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To: nickcarraway

The world facing a natural vanilla shortage?

= = =

Mayor Ray Nagin on Tuesday apologized for urging residents to rebuild a “chocolate New Orleans”

Remember?


26 posted on 04/18/2020 4:21:11 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: nickcarraway

Vanilla replaced rose water as a flavor enhancer in the US and many places in Europe. Rosewater is much cheaper and far more sustainable. It’s a slightly different flavor, but still good in ice creams, frostings, some cookies and cakes it’s a fail in chocolate chips). I love discussing this as well as “the fair trade/colonial” practices with any SJW who brags about using Madagascar vanilla


27 posted on 04/18/2020 4:35:16 PM PDT by PrincessB
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To: PrincessB

Rose water is so easy to make, as well.


28 posted on 04/18/2020 5:23:41 PM PDT by Don W (When blacks riot, neighbourhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn.)
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To: nickcarraway

I’ve never thought of vanilla as a spice. More of a flavoring. But maybe that’s just a matter of semantics.


29 posted on 04/18/2020 5:28:45 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: nickcarraway

Make vanilla illegal and the drug smugglers will figure out how to mass produce those orchid beans.


30 posted on 04/18/2020 5:32:43 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: Ken522

Vanillin [the fake stuff] has a funky cloying flavor that is almost nauseating, like the “maple flavored” syrup made from corn syrup. Neither compare to the real thing.


31 posted on 04/18/2020 5:36:02 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: Cold Heart

Then there is Tahitian vanilla which is a product that people in Papua New Guinea are growing.


32 posted on 04/18/2020 5:39:46 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: FrdmLvr

You can dramatically improve imitation vanilla by adding a few real vanilla beans to it and letting it age.


33 posted on 04/18/2020 5:41:08 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: pbear8

6 months


34 posted on 04/18/2020 5:42:11 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: NorthWoody

Mexico also is known for making lots of the fake stuff- they sell it cheap in large plastic bottles.


35 posted on 04/18/2020 5:43:54 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: pbear8

Vodka, vanilla beans, mason jar.

Rum! Use a good quality rum.


36 posted on 04/18/2020 6:09:04 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: nickcarraway

37 posted on 04/18/2020 6:13:33 PM PDT by Bommer (I am a MAGA-Deplorian! It is the way! It is the only way!)
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To: FrdmLvr
I’ve heard Bakers imitation vanilla is nearly as good as real vanilla, and at 98 cents for a large bottle on Amazon, I think I might go that route for baking if vanilla goes up precipitously due to this shortage.

I used to work at a dairy which made very good (as in tasting) 16% butterfat ice cream, and I always though the flavor was better when made with imitation vanilla.

38 posted on 04/18/2020 6:38:53 PM PDT by daniel1212 ( Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
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To: cherry

I can’t in baked stuff, but I can in my coffee... If I am drinking cold brew.

Need to experiment with imitation + vodka to see if my opinion changes there.


39 posted on 04/18/2020 8:49:01 PM PDT by Aqua225 (Realist)
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To: nickcarraway

here’s a working link:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/igorbosilkovski/2020/04/15/the-world-is-facing-a-natural-vanilla-shortage-this-guy-says-he-will-fix-that-by-producing-vanilla-from-corn-fiber/#77131ef2763e


40 posted on 04/18/2020 8:55:02 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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