"Seattlejo" > wrote in message
...

>
> I'm finding this discussion amusing. The most recent issue of Cooks
> Illustrated has an article comparing different kinds of Vanilla (real
> and imitation) side by side. They had Penzeys of course, and the normal
> grocery store kind, they also had one of those drugstore bottles you
> find for 1.50.
>
> The winner? The imitation from the drugstore. I was surprised, but I
> guess its one of those things, dont knock it till you try it.
> Thats not to say I'm giving up my double vanilla from the spice house.
>

Sure, but drugstore and dollar store are two very different markets. The
latter has consistently poor quality products for sale while the former can
have both good quality and not-so-good quality products.

Not only that, but herbs and spices have very different shelf lives from
extracts. Extracts, IIRC, have alcohol which helps preserve their flavour
(I'm sure someone will correct me, probably in a not-so-friendly way, if I'm
wrong :-)). If you look at Cook's Illustrated tests for herbs and spices
(which are what the OP was looking for), the cheaper dollar store-type
products rarely if ever finish near the top.

rona
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