# Vanilla vs. French Vanilla **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546 "2007-01-03T16:03:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/1 "2007-01-03T16:03:29Z")
What’s the difference in taste between these two? I think “French Vanilla” is used to describe custard-like desserts that have a vanilla flavor. I’m looking to pick up a few bottles of [Torani flavored syrups](http://www.torani.com/create/fpsyrups.shtml) and noticed they have Vanilla, French Vanilla and Vanilla Bean all listed. Based on the nutrition info, it looks like Vanilla is the sweetest with 19 grams of sugar compared to 17 for both French Vanilla and Vanilla Bean. I’m looking for the one that is going to have the strongest & cleanest vanilla aroma & flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/2 "2007-01-03T16:13:32Z")
From [wikpedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla#Specific_types_of_vanilla) > [@](#): > > The term French vanilla is often used to designate preparations that actually have a strong vanilla aroma, and contain vanilla grains, but originates from the French style of making ice cream custard base with vanilla beans, cream, and egg yolks. Vanilla beans have the strongest vanilla flavor but who knows what you could be getting with prepared syrups? I suspect the difference between those choices is negligible. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/3 "2007-01-03T16:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] I think “French Vanilla” is used to describe custard-like desserts that have a vanilla flavor. [/QUOTE] Vanilla, cream, and egg yolk flavor, to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/4 "2007-01-03T16:44:30Z")
Oh, never mind. Didn’t notice **DtC** quoted Wiki. ---
**Author:** ![LANmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c89c15/32.png) [@LANmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LANmom)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/5 "2007-01-03T16:46:17Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] What’s the difference in taste between these two? I think “French Vanilla” is used to describe custard-like desserts that have a vanilla flavor. I’m looking to pick up a few bottles of [Torani flavored syrups](http://www.torani.com/create/fpsyrups.shtml) and noticed they have Vanilla, French Vanilla and Vanilla Bean all listed. Based on the nutrition info, it looks like Vanilla is the sweetest with 19 grams of sugar compared to 17 for both French Vanilla and Vanilla Bean. I’m looking for the one that is going to have the strongest & cleanest vanilla aroma & flavor. [/QUOTE] I find French Vanilla ice creams taste very eggy. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/6 "2007-01-03T16:53:13Z")
As **LANmom** says, french vanilla is creamier because of the added eggs. Some like it some don’t. C’est la vie. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/7 "2007-01-03T16:58:12Z")
[QUOTE=Abby\_Emma\_Sasha] As **LANmom** says, french vanilla is creamier because of the added eggs. Some like it some don’t. **C’est la vie.** [/QUOTE] Or perhaps _vive la différence_! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/8 "2007-01-03T17:18:47Z")
Depending on what you’re planning on using the syrup for, it may be cheaper and better tasting to just make your own vanilla flavored simple syrup. I like flavored coffee, but the ingredient lists for flavored creamers weirds me out (shouldn’t creamers have some sort of dairy product in them?!), so I keep homemade syrups in the fridge to add to my coffee when the mood strikes. Simply boil one part water and stir in two parts sugar until it dissolves completely. Add flavoring and store. For a strong vanilla flavor, I use split vanilla beans. To store the syrups, I use condiment bottles that can be purchased at most dollar stores or super-stores (like Wal\*Mart or K-Mart) and keep them in the fridge. Simple syrups work well for coffee and mixed drinks, but I’ve been told that they’re too heavy for Italian Sodas, but I imagine that could be fixed by adjusting the amount of water used. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/9 "2007-01-03T17:37:24Z")
If you supported the troops, you’d forget all about Frech Vanilla and instead start using Freedom Vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/10 "2007-01-03T18:01:17Z")
[QUOTE=MrSquishy] Or perhaps _vive la différence_! 🙂 [/QUOTE] French vanilla has a certain _je ne sais quoi_. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/11 "2007-01-03T18:20:41Z")
Well, goddamnit all you french speaking bastids, Bill O’Reilly is onto you and you can’t hide! Oh, ooops, is that over? ---
**Author:** ![iluvurmom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iluvurmom/32/7276_2.png) [@iluvurmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iluvurmom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanilla-vs-french-vanilla/386546/12 "2007-01-04T17:01:45Z")
French vanilla is sweeter I prefer regular Vanilla