Nielsen-Massey make fine vanilla

Ever had real vanilla bean ice cream? Or Turkish delight made with real rose water? Think those flavours are totally out of your league? Think again. Nielsen-Massey is here, bringing you essences and extracts you never knew you needed. From rose and vanilla to lemon and orange blossom, there’s so much to love.

Originally found in Mexico, vanilla is now grown primarily by our African neighbour, Madagascar, as well as Indonesia, Tahiti, and the Bourbon islands of Mauritius, Seychelles and the Comoros. The best vanilla comes from Madagascar and the Bourbon islands (Bourbon is a historical description, not a whiskey from Kentucky, in this case). Did you know that the vanilla we use every day is actually the seed pod of the vanilla orchid?

Continuing with a spot of trivia: in ancient times, rosewater was used for medicinal and nutritional purposes, as well as a perfume, and public rose gardens in ancient Greece and Rome were as highly prized as the fruit and vegetable orchards and gardens. Brilliant for sweets, the heady scent of rosewater is favoured in Iranian food, especially baklava and nougat, as well as French madeleines (here’s a recipe for rosebud madeleines). At many Indian weddings, rosewater is sprinkled in the entrance to welcome the guests. Who knew.

Nielsen-Massey certainly make fine vanilla. Started in 1907 in the United States, this family-owned business has gone from strength to strength. Want to know the secret of their super high quality? They use a cold-extraction process, slowly and gently extracting every bit of flavour from the beans, without harming them using heat.

We love these essences for their range of flavours, pretty labeling and, best of all, their quality. Even if you aren’t the keenest baker on the block, the essences lend a helping hand in various home scenarios: dilute a little of the orange blossom or rosewater with some water and use to freshen a musty room or use a couple of drops of coffee extract in your hot chocolate to give it a kick without the caffeine. The list goes on. Thanks, Nielsen-Massey.

Give them a try (buy one here) and let us know what you think.

Nielsen-Massey factory pictures from Goodlifer.com