Vanilla extract is a fragrant, amber-colored liquid made by steeping vanilla beans in ethyl alcohol and water. To be considered a “pure vanilla extract,” it needs a minimum of 35 percent alcohol and at least 100 grams of vanilla beans per liter. The best pure vanilla extracts contain over 200 flavor and aroma compounds. The process of making vanilla extract involves macerating and percolating vanilla pods in a solution of ethanol and water. The vanilla beans are aged for 3-4 months, allowing them to develop characteristic vanilla flavors, including increased levels of vanillin.

The primary flavor compound in vanilla extract is vanillin, but pure vanilla extract contains several hundred additional flavor compounds, which are responsible for its complex, deep flavor. By contrast, artificial vanilla flavor is solely made up of artificially derived vanillin, which is frequently made from a by-product of the wood pulp industry.

In summary, vanilla extract is made of the following ingredients:

• Vanilla beans
• Ethyl alcohol
• Water

Its important to note that "natural vanilla flavoring" is not the same as "vanilla extract." Natural vanilla flavoring is derived from vanilla beans with little to no alcohol, and the maximum amount of alcohol that is usually present is only 2-3%. Therefore, by FDA regulations, it cannot be called an extract.