# Mexican Vanilla

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 28, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004 "2004-12-28T21:24:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/1 "2004-12-28T21:24:55Z")

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What’s up with Mexican vanilla?

I’m going on a cruise next week, and already four different people have given me $20 to bring them a bottle of vanilla.

I asked them why, and no one can really explain it. I’m hoping someone here can.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/2 "2004-12-28T21:30:29Z")

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I think it’s because it is cheaper down there for the non-synthetic vanilla. Usually in the US it’s fake, or the price is outrageous.

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**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/3 "2004-12-28T21:32:38Z")

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Here’s a link from Penzey’s Spices that explains a little about vanilla and how it is produced, with several references specifically to Mexican vanilla.

Oh…something I should probably mention…

Be sure when you are there that you are buying _pure_ vanilla. There is a “vanilla” product commonly sold in Mexico that is actually made from/contains coumarin. It’s cheaper, tastes like crap, and I have heard that it can cause problems for people on certain medications.

Sorry to be lazy and not provide a cite, but I’m at work right now. Maybe someone who is better informed about that will happen along and shed some light.

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**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/4 "2004-12-28T21:34:02Z")

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Alrighty…I suppose it would be better if I actually remembered to include the link. :smack:

[http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvanilla.html](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvanilla.html)

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**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/5 "2004-12-28T22:03:27Z")

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The Master himself has a word on Mexican vanilla: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011207.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011207.html)

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**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-vanilla/282004/6 "2004-12-28T23:15:15Z")

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Treat your Coke-loving friends to Mexican Coca-Cola, made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. It’s supposed to be tastier.