Bucerias Mexico 2015: Giving the gift of coumarin

Before it got too hot, at around 8 a.m., Sue and Rob walked to the Flamingo Sports Club located behind the Mega grocery store, for their last swim in the olympic pool. As usual, the fitness facility was pretty much vacant of people, and the pool was perfect as usual. The people who work there are very friendly, and the club is immaculately kept. As they swam their 50 lengths, a black vulture sat high on the light post and watched. This new world vulture can only detect prey with his eyes, unlike the common old world turkey vulture that has sharp eyes but also a great sense of smell.

The turkey vulture's range is from Canada to the bottom of South America, while this black vulture has a range from the south USA to Chile. The black vulture has no syrinx or vocal box like other birds so it can only grunt and hiss. It raises 2 chicks a year. It is a scavenger so it probably thought that Sue and Rob's scrawny boney bodies would make a great lunch.

Many of the old "gringos" from Canada are preparing for their departure from Mexico. The migration usually happens at the end of March. The weather here in Bucerias begins to heat up so that the afternoons are unbearably hot. Easter Week is coming (Pascua Semana) and many Mexicans head for the oceanside. It gets very crowded here so it is time for us to return to the spring weather of Canada. But what special gifts will we take to our friends back home? I know!

Something to think about first ...

Mexican vanilla is cheap, tasty, and versatile. It would make a great gift. Rob and Sue are on the hunt for vanilla this afternoon. It is sold in every store here. This should be easy to find. You might find the story about coumarin below interesting, and check the label on your vanilla bottles.

Mexican vanilla is a gourmet cook's dream spice. Its rich, smooth taste is unrivaled, which makes it the perfect ingredient to add pizzazz to ordinary recipes.

History of Mexican Vanilla

Vanilla is made from the orchid plant and grows naturally in the southern coastal regions of Mexico. The Totonacs of Veracruz, Mexico are credited as its first cultivators. In the early 1400s the Totonacs considered vanilla a sacred herb and used it in ritual offerings and for medicine, but rarely as a flavoring. It wasn't until nearly a century later that the Aztecs combined vanilla with chocolate to create the drink chocolatl. In the years since, the fragrant bean has become one of the most desirable spices in the world and is embraced by both professional chefs and home cooks.

Vanilla Facts

Mexican vanilla is highly valued for its flavor, which is described by top chefs as "spicy and delicate." Authentic vanilla is produced in much smaller quantities than ordinary vanilla, due to the extensive labor required to grow the pods.

The Mexican vanilla bean is a thicker and darker bean than its traditional cousin, and has a smooth, strong, rich fragrance and flavor. Some cooks regard Mexican vanilla as the best of its kind, and use it in everything from stews to beverages. However, because of its extra spiciness Mexican vanilla beans, pure vanilla extract and other vanilla products, tend to be used most commonly found in dessert dishes as it marries well with sweet treats that rely heavily on baking spices for flavoring.

Important Warning About Mexican Vanilla

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a stern warning about the use of some vanilla products. Some manufacturers of vanilla products in Mexico add coumarin, which is a toxic substance banned by the FDA, because it can cause liver and kidney damage.

Coumarin is derived from the Brazilian Tonka bean and can be used to make flavoring, which is very similar to vanilla. The potentially deadly substance is used extensively in synthetic vanillas manufactured in Mexico. In the 1950s the United States banned imports of coumarin products; however, the products still make their way across the border from time to time.

Things to Avoid When Shopping for Vanilla

Prior to purchasing vanilla products make sure they are clearly labeled "coumarin free" or "pure vanilla." In addition, always buy vanilla products from reputable suppliers. Often tourists visiting Mexico are tempted to buy bargain priced vanilla. The cheap price is usually an indicator that the vanilla is laced with coumarin. Pure Mexican vanilla is expensive. The synthetic version may smell and taste like vanilla, but it is not pure vanilla and should be avoided. Authentic vanilla is amber colored while synthetics tend to be dark and murky due to the coal tar from which they are produced or from caramel and red food colorings. To ensure you are getting pure vanilla from Mexico check the label, the price, and avoid large bargain-sized bottles found south of the border.

At 5 p.m., all the old beach bums met for a picnic.