Vanilla Extract
<p ><b>Vanilla extract</b> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution" title="Solution" >solution</a> containing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor" title="Flavor" >flavor compound</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanillin" title="Vanillin" >vanillin</a> as the primary ingredient. </p>
<p>
Pure vanilla extract is made by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maceration_(food)" title="Maceration (food)" >macerating</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percolation" title="Percolation" >percolating</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla" title="Vanilla" >vanilla beans</a> in a solution of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_alcohol" title="Ethyl alcohol" class="mw-redirect" >ethyl alcohol</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water" title="Water" >water</a>. </p>
<p>
In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States" >United States</a>, in order for a vanilla extract to be called pure, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration_(United_States)" title="Food and Drug Administration (United States)" class="mw-redirect" >U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a> requires that the solution contains a minimum 35% of alcohol and 13.35 ounces of vanilla bean per gallon.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_extract#cite_note-0" >[1]</a></sup> Double and triple strength (up to 20-fold) vanilla extracts are available.</p>
<p>
Vanilla extract is the most common form of vanilla used today. Mexican, Tahitian, Indonesian and Bourbon vanilla are the main
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_bean#Cultivars" title="Vanilla bean" class="mw-redirect" >varieties</a>. Bourbon vanilla is named for the period when the island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9union" title="Réunion" >Réunion</a> was ruled by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_kings" title="Bourbon kings" class="mw-redirect" >Bourbon kings</a> of France; it does not contain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_whiskey" title="Bourbon whiskey" >Bourbon whiskey</a>.</p>
<p>
Natural vanilla <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavoring" title="Flavoring" class="mw-redirect" >flavoring</a> is derived from real vanilla beans with no alcohol.</p>
<h2 >Intoxication</h2>
<p >As with many other preparations made from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol" title="Alcohol" >alcohol</a>, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume" title="Perfume" >perfumes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne" title="Cologne" >colognes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftershave" title="Aftershave" >aftershaves</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouthwash" title="Mouthwash" >mouthwashes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold#Management" title="Common cold" >cold preparations</a> and other food flavorings, it is theoretically possible to become <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_intoxication" title="Alcohol intoxication" >intoxicated</a> by drinking large amounts of vanilla extract. There have been at least two documented cases.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_extract#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_extract#cite_note-2" >[3]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adulterants" title="Adulterants" class="mw-redirect" >Adulterants</a> such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coumarin#Toxicity_and_use_in_foods.2C_beverages.2C_tobacco.2C_and_cosmetics" title="Coumarin" >coumarin</a>, which is often found in vanilla extract, can cause sickness and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_damage" title="Liver damage" class="mw-redirect" >liver damage</a> if ingested in extremely high doses.<sup id="cite_ref-bfrtdi_3-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_extract#cite_note-bfrtdi-3" >[4]</a></sup></p>