Dante Carrillo
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a whole-foods-based diet that avoids processed foods, certain dairy products, sweeteners aside from honey, and most grains. It focuses on consistently choosing good foods to eat, especially when it comes to gut health. Vanilla extract is allowed on the SCD diet, but it must be free of added sugars and colours. Commercial vanilla extracts often contain additives like caramel colour and sugar, so some people choose to make their own vanilla extract using vodka and organic vanilla beans.
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What You'll Learn
Vanilla extracts without added sugars and colours are SCD legal
Vanilla extracts are a popular topic of discussion for those on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). The SCD is a whole-foods-based diet that avoids processed foods, certain dairy products, sweeteners aside from honey, and most grains. It focuses on consistently choosing good foods to eat, especially when it comes to gut health, and promoting the healing of the gut.
There are also some store-bought options for SCD-legal vanilla extract. For example, Pure Vanilla Extract from Penzeys Spices, and Zeron Double Intensity Vanilla Extract, are both made with only vanilla and alcohol. Singing Dog Vanilla is another brand that offers organic, gluten-free, sugar-free, and fair-trade vanilla products.
Making your own vanilla extract can be a cheaper and higher-quality option, and it can be fun to experiment with different types of alcohol and beans to find your preferred combination.
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Vodka is the most neutral-tasting alcohol for vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is allowed on the SCD diet, but it must be free of added sugars, colours, and gluten. Commercial vanilla extracts often contain additives, such as caramel colour and sugar, so it is important to carefully check the ingredients. Some people on the SCD diet choose to make their own vanilla extract to ensure it complies with the diet's requirements.
When making vanilla extract for the SCD diet, it is important to use an alcohol that is gluten-free and does not impart additional flavours that may be incompatible with the diet. Vodka is a popular choice for making vanilla extract because it is considered to be a neutral-tasting alcohol. Its neutral flavour allows the sweet, fragrant vanilla flavour to shine through without introducing overpowering flavours.
Vodka is often favoured over other spirits, such as rum or brandy, which can have more distinct flavour profiles. While white rum is another neutral spirit that can be used, vodka is generally preferred for its lack of aftertaste. Some people choose to use cheaper vodkas and run them through a charcoal filter to ensure a neutral flavour.
When selecting a vodka for making vanilla extract, it is important to choose one that is gluten-free and does not contain any added ingredients that may be prohibited on the SCD diet. It is also recommended to use a vodka with an alcohol content of at least 40% (80 proof) to ensure a potent extract.
By using vodka as the base alcohol and combining it with high-quality vanilla beans, individuals on the SCD diet can create a delicious and compliant vanilla extract to use in their recipes.
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Commercial vanilla extracts may contain up to 40% fructose
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) focuses on whole foods and eliminates processed foods, certain dairy products, sweeteners aside from honey, and most grains. Commercial vanilla extracts often contain additives like caramel colour and sugar, with up to 40% fructose added to sweeten the extract. As a result, only vanilla extracts without added sugars and colours are SCD-legal.
SCD-legal vanilla extracts are available from some suppliers, such as Penzeys Spices and Zeron Fine Foods. However, some people choose to make their own vanilla extract to ensure it complies with the SCD. This can be done by combining organic vanilla beans with a 40% alcohol-based solvent, commonly vodka. The alcohol used must be gluten-free, and the extract should be stored in a dark-coloured airtight container.
One source recommends using a minimum of eight Grade B vanilla beans per eight ounces of alcohol, as commercial producers have ways of extracting more flavour from the beans than is possible through home methods. The vanilla beans should be cut lengthwise and left to infuse in the alcohol for at least two days. The resulting extract can be used to flavour SCD-compliant foods such as yogurt.
Making your own vanilla extract ensures that no additional sugars or other non-compliant ingredients are included, which is important for those following the SCD to manage conditions like IBD.
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Organic vanilla beans are available at Costco
Vanilla extract is allowed on the SCD diet, but it must be free of added sugars, colours, and gluten. It is fairly easy to make your own vanilla extract at home, using two ingredients: a 40% alcohol-based solvent (vodka) and organic vanilla beans.
Organic vanilla beans from Madagascar are also available from other retailers, such as Beanilla and Vanilla Bean Kings. These beans are produced without fertilizers and are sourced directly from small-scale farmers in Madagascar. They are traditionally cured using the Bourbon curing method, which involves heating the green pods in warm water, fermentation, and frequent massages during the drying process. This results in a unique, top-quality product with an exceptional taste.
If you are looking to buy vanilla beans in bulk, Slofoodgroup offers a wide variety of gourmet grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar, Tahiti, Uganda, and other regions. Their beans are hand-picked from sustainable farms and inspected multiple times to ensure the highest quality.
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Leftover vanilla beans can be dehydrated and ground into vanilla powder
Vanilla extract is allowed on the SCD diet, but it must be free of added sugars, colours, and gluten. Commercial vanilla extracts often contain additives such as caramel colour and sugar, so it is recommended to make your own extract using vodka and organic vanilla beans.
Dehydrating Vanilla Beans:
First, ensure that your leftover vanilla beans are cured. Fresh beans will need to undergo a curing process, which includes dipping them in hot water, sweating them in wool blankets, drying them, and conditioning them in boxes lined with wax paper. Cured beans will have a glossy brown or almost black colour.
To dehydrate the beans, you can use a dehydrator, an oven, or even dry them at room temperature. If using an oven or dehydrator, preheat it to 150-170 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually the lowest temperature setting on a standard oven. Place the beans in the oven or dehydrator and dry them until they are completely devoid of moisture.
Grinding Vanilla Beans:
Once the beans are fully dehydrated, break them into smaller pieces and grind them in batches using a coffee grinder or spice grinder. Make sure the powder feels dry and has no noticeable moisture content. It should loosely pour from the grinder into your storage container without caking up. If it does cake up, return the powder to the dehydrator on a piece of parchment or silicone tray and dry it at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for a few more hours.
Storing Vanilla Powder:
Store your vanilla powder in an airtight container, such as a canning jar. To preserve the freshness and aromatic compounds of the powder, consider vacuum sealing the lid. Properly stored vanilla powder should have a shelf life of a few years.
Using Vanilla Powder:
Vanilla powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various recipes. It can be added to sugar, ice cream, syrups, baked goods, and even savoury dishes that require a dry form of vanilla. Vanilla powder is also excellent for making vanilla-scented items such as candles and ground coffee. Remember, a little goes a long way with vanilla powder, so use it sparingly and adjust the amount to suit your taste preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
SCD stands for Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It is a whole-foods-based diet that avoids processed foods, certain dairy products, sweeteners aside from honey, and most grains.
Yes, vanilla extract is allowed on the SCD diet, but it must be free from sugars, colours, gluten, and other additives.
Some brands of vanilla extract that are suitable for the SCD diet include Singing Dog Vanilla, Pure Vanilla Extract by Penzeys Spices, and Zeron Double Intensity Vanilla Extract.
Yes, you can make your own vanilla extract by infusing organic vanilla beans in a 40% alcohol-based solvent, commonly vodka. You can also use light rum, but be sure to use an airtight container and follow the recommended ratios of beans to alcohol.
