Here in Houston, you can buy real vanilla extract from Mexico very cheaply.
We have large grocery stores that specialize in Mexican food. My wife bought
a fancy looking 236 ml bottle from a Wisconsin specialty company for $12+
and it is just not as good as the Mexican. The 750ml bottle from Mexico cost
about $7. Using it in baked goods has never seemed to degrade the taste. For
that price why use imitation?

Raj