Vanilla Warning

You know the saying "All that glitters is not gold"? or "You get what you pay for"? Well, here is a warning I thought I'd pass on to all you cooks (as well as those who eat what the cooks whip up!) . . .

Ever heard about or seen those HUGE bottles of vanilla extract in Mexico? You know the ones, 1 quart for $5 . . . what a deal!

We use vanilla in baking all the time and only buy the pure extract which is pricey. While in Puerto Vallarta we were taken by the cheap bottles of vanilla and the only reason we didn't bring one (or a suitcase full, as we would have liked to!) was fear of the glass bottle breaking.

However, just read something alarming to be aware of when purchasing vanilla in Mexico:

Courmarin, the bad guy of the vanilla industry, is a flavouring similar to vanilla but derived from the Brazillian tonka bean. It is used extensively in Mexico to make synthetic vanilla, but it is a known carcinogen that can cause liver damage and should not be used. If you purchase vanilla in Mexico, steer clear of the bargain-size bottles and make sure it is labelled "courmarin-free."

(Source: Canadian Living Magazine, November 2007)