Vanilla planifolia is a species of orchid that is commercially used for its high vanillin content, which is used as a raw material in the food and beverage industry, as well as in the production of cosmetics and perfumes. Here are some details about vanilla, including positive and negative aspects, and ingredients or materials:
Positive aspects:
- Vanilla is a widely-used flavoring material throughout the world.
- Vanillin, the major component of natural vanilla, is an antioxidant capable of protecting membranes against lipid peroxidation and DNA against strand breaks induced by reactive oxygen species.
- Vanilla is used as a raw material in the food and beverage industry, as well as in the production of cosmetics and perfumes.
Negative aspects:
- Only 2 to 5% of the vanilla bean is used as an alcoholic extract, and the residual material (95%) is considered waste.
Ingredients or materials:
- Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla pods in an alcoholic or occasionally glycerol solution.
- Vanilla sugar is a packaged mix of sugar and vanilla extract.
- Vanilla powder is made by grinding vanilla pods, and may be blended with sugar, starch, or other ingredients.
- Vanilla planifolia fruit extract is used in some cosmetic products.
It is worth noting that information on the specific ingredients or materials used in vanilla products is limited in the search results.