Asher's Nuts uses real Madagascar vanilla extract, not vanillin. Under FDA rules, vanilla extract has to be made from vanilla beans. Vanillin is just one flavor compound, and most of the world's supply is made synthetically rather than taken from vanilla pods. Real vanilla gives the dark chocolate a creamy, rounded finish, and Nutella's label lists vanillin instead.
What's the difference between vanilla extract and vanillin?
Vanilla extract comes from the bean, and vanillin is a single molecule. Under the FDA standard of identity (21 CFR 169.175), vanilla extract is a solution, in at least 35% alcohol, of the flavor and aroma compounds extracted from vanilla beans. Vanillin is the best-known of those compounds, the one that smells most like "vanilla." It can be made without the bean. A review in Química Nova (Daugsch and Pastore, 2005) estimated that the world uses about 12,000 tons of vanillin a year. Only about 50 tons of that are extracted from vanilla pods, and synthetic vanillin supplies the rest.
Does real vanilla actually taste different?
Yes. Real extract tastes fuller, because the bean carries much more than vanillin. Cured vanilla beans contain many aroma compounds besides vanillin, and together they give real vanilla its depth: creamy, sweet, a little woody, a little floral. Vanillin on its own is a narrower, one-note "vanilla" smell. In a jar where the 70% dark chocolate is doing the heavy lifting, real vanilla smooths the cocoa's edges in a way that tastes natural rather than perfumed.
Does Nutella use vanillin?
Yes. Nutella's US ingredient list includes vanillin, along with sugar (first), palm oil (second), skim milk and soy lecithin. That's a common, perfectly legal choice in mass-market spreads, and it keeps costs down. We went the other way and use real vanilla extract. See the full side-by-side in our Nutella alternative guide.
Why Madagascar vanilla?
Because its flavor fits chocolate and nuts. Madagascar vanilla, often sold as "bourbon" vanilla, comes from the Vanilla planifolia orchid. Its flavor is rich, creamy and sweet, the classic vanilla most people picture. Other origins taste different. Tahitian vanilla, for example, comes from a different species (Vanilla tahitensis) and is often described as more floral and fruity. For a spread built on buttery macadamias and dark cocoa, the creamy Madagascar profile is the right fit.
What position does vanilla play on the team?
Point guard. It doesn't score much itself, but it sets everyone else up. Vanilla makes the spread taste sweeter than it is. That's a big part of how we keep the raw honey to a minimum and the total sugar to about 3 g per 2-tablespoon serving. It links the cocoa to the nuts, softens the bitter edges of the walnuts, and works with Ceylon cinnamon to build a warm aroma. Read the sugar math in low-sugar chocolate spread.
Does the alcohol in vanilla extract stay in the spread?
Very little. Vanilla extract is used in small amounts, as the sixth of eight ingredients by weight, so the amount per serving is tiny, much like in home baking. If you need to avoid alcohol entirely for medical or religious reasons, contact asher@ashersnuts.com before ordering.
Quick facts
- Position: sixth ingredient by weight
- Real Madagascar vanilla extract, not vanillin
- FDA: vanilla extract must come from vanilla beans in at least 35% alcohol
- About 50 of roughly 12,000 tons of vanillin used each year come from pods (Daugsch and Pastore, 2005)
- Job on the team: point guard, making the cocoa taste rounder and sweeter without extra sugar
FAQ
Is vanillin bad for you?
We don't make that claim. Vanillin is a widely used flavoring. We just prefer the fuller taste of real vanilla extract.
Does Asher's Nuts taste like vanilla?
Not on its own. It tastes like dark chocolate and nuts. The vanilla rounds out the finish in the background.
Is "bourbon vanilla" made with bourbon whiskey?
No. "Bourbon" is a trade name tied to where this style of vanilla was historically grown, not the drink. There's no whiskey in the jar.
What are the other ingredients?
Macadamias, walnuts, dark chocolate, raw honey, desiccated coconut, Ceylon cinnamon and sea salt. Read what makes Asher's Nuts different, Meet the Team: Coconut and Meet the Team: Salt.