# Vanilla Extract **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442 "2003-04-18T00:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/1 "2003-04-18T00:31:32Z")
someone in my study hall last year said that one could get drunk off from 1/2 cup of vanila extract. the other day, on a cooking show, they said that vanilla beans were soaked in alcohol (such as burboun), which kinda supports what the guy said. the cooks were mixing 1 part vanilla extract with 8 parts milk to try to see which brand tastes better. so, does that mean one could get drunk by drinking 4 1/2 cups of the mixture (assuming they’re no lactose intolerant)? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/2 "2003-04-18T00:56:12Z")
Yes, they are soaked in alcohol (burboun or vodka, I think). So yes you could get drunk from it. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/3 "2003-04-18T01:22:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Sec. 169.175 Vanilla extract. > > (a) Vanilla extract is the solution in aqueous ethyl alcohol of the sapid and odorous principles extractable from vanilla beans. **In vanilla extract the content of ethyl alcohol is not less than 35 percent by volume and the content of vanilla constituent, as defined in Sec. 169.3©, is not less than one unit per gallon.** The vanilla constituent may be extracted directly from vanilla beans or it may be added in the form of concentrated vanilla extract or concentrated vanilla flavoring or vanilla flavoring concentrated to the semisolid form called vanilla oleo-resin. Vanilla extract may contain one or more of the following optional ingredients: > (1) Glycerin. > (2) Propylene glycol. > (3) Sugar (including invert sugar). > (4) Dextrose. > (5) Corn sirup (including dried corn sirup). > (b)(1) The specified name of the food is `Vanilla extract'' or `Extract of vanilla’’. > (2) When the vanilla extract is made in whole or in part by dilution of vanilla oleoresin, concentrated vanilla extract, or concentrated vanilla flavoring, the label shall bear the statement `Made from ______'' or `Made in part from \_\_\_\_ **’’, the blank being filled in with the name or names `vanilla oleoresin'', `concentrated vanilla extract’’, or `concentrated vanilla flavoring'', as appropriate. If the article contains two or more units of vanilla constituent, the name of the food shall include the designation `** -fold’’, the blank being filled in with the whole number (disregarding fractions) expressing the number of units of vanilla constituent per gallon of the article. > (3) Wherever the name of the food appears on the label so conspicuously as to be easily seen under customary conditions of purchase, the labeling required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall immediately and conspicuously precede or follow such name, without intervening written, printed, or graphic matter. > © Label declaration. Each of the ingredients used in the food shall be declared on the label as required by the applicable sections of parts 101 and 130 of this chapter. > > [42 FR 14479, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 58 FR 2886, Jan. 6, 1993] (Emphasis mine.) Source: [http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?FR=169.175](http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?FR=169.175) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/4 "2003-04-18T04:10:49Z")
I suppose you could, but why would you want to? Not only would straight vanilla extract taste completely nasty, the real stuff is expensive, so it’s not even cost-effective. I think it would be marginally more fun than chugging cough syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/5 "2003-04-18T04:24:03Z")
Does anyone remember that episode of “Family Ties” where the alcoholic uncle (played by Tom Hanks, I think) was caught in the pantry drinking vanilla extract? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/6 "2003-04-18T05:00:03Z")
I remember it. Afterwards, he chased it with a bottle of maraschino cherries. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/7 "2003-04-18T15:38:23Z")
well, i’m not 21. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/8 "2003-04-18T15:41:01Z")
i was just wondering about artificial vanilla this morning… it wouldn’t work, would it? it has alot of the same ingredients and something called “vanillin”. what the heck it that? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/9 "2003-04-18T16:01:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gypsymoth3 \* > \*\*i was just wondering about artificial vanilla this morning… it wouldn’t work, would it? it has alot of the same ingredients and something called “vanillin”. what the heck it that? \*\* It’d work just as well as “natural” vanilla extracts. [Vanillin](http://valhalla.chem.udel.edu/vanillin.html) (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is the chemical that supplies most of the flavor from vanilla beans. ---
**Author:** ![SeanDuggan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@SeanDuggan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanDuggan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/10 "2003-04-18T16:03:37Z")
Check the label. All of the extracts in my family’s pantry involves a statement of alcohol content (by pecentage, not proof). Real Vanilla extract ranked the highest at 37% while the artifical vanilla was around 5%. I can speak for the fact that yes indeed, one can at the last get a mild buzz from it. I was doing that old school strick of making soda using carbonated water and extract, and over-did the extract. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/11 "2003-04-18T16:58:59Z")
psch! 5%? eh, nah, i need something real. it’s driving me crazy… i haven’t done anything ALL spring break, and my mom’s gone right now… i miss my crackhead friends… i think i’m goona go raid my neighbor’s house for seeds… maybe i’ll have something within 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/12 "2003-04-18T17:39:51Z")
eat a few bottles of nutmeg and wash it all down with some vanilla extract that should get you somewhat fucked up or just take a bunch of nyquil ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-extract/169442/13 "2003-04-18T18:20:58Z")
We are not in the business of helping underaged folks get drunk, so I’ll close this thread. And **Qazzz** , we do not permit discussion of how to abuse pharmaceuticals, even over the counter ones like Nyquil. Don’t do that again. bibliophage moderator GQ