Recipe: re: Vanilla Powder

A quick scan of available "Vanilla Powder" shows that you have to watch what you buy as "vanilla powder":

* Vanilla beans ground to a coarse powder.
* Whole, dried ground vanilla bean with sugar added.
* High strength vanilla extract mixed with malto-dextrin base: dried and powdered
* Extracted vanilla essence infused into base which is ground.
* Artificial vanilla flavour infused into wheat flour
* Natural & Artificial vanilla flavor with sugars and starch.

NOTE from manufacturer: It takes over 220 beans to make 1 pound of vanilla powder. 1 lb. Pure Vanilla Powder On Sale $94.00


VANILLA POWDER - Owing to the high fat and moisture content of vanilla beans, they are difficult to powder alone and this operation is usually carried out in the presence of sugar or a similar suitable blending material. Consequently, 'vanilla powder' is normally a mixture of ground vanilla and a carrier. A minimum of 30 per cent sugar in the mixture is necessary during the powdering to obtain a satisfactory product. Care must be taken during the operation to avoid overheating which can result in the loss of volatile constituents by evaporation. An anti-caking agent, such as aluminium calcium silicate, may be incorporated in the ground mixture at a level of up to 2 per cent by weight.
[http://www.spizes.com/spiceonline/categorylist/VanillaProcessMfgPowd.asp]


VANILLA POWDER [Yield: 24 teaspoons]
By Jackie Graff - Living Food Feast from Sprout Caf
5 vanilla beans
1/2 cup soft spring wheat berries or buckwheat (hulled)
Place all ingredients in Vita-Mix or seed/coffee grinder and grind to powder.
Place in an airtight container and store in refrigerator