Villa Vainilla Pure Vanilla Extract - Premium Concentrated Vanilla, Real, Natural, Gourmet Vanilla Flavor from Mexico (8.4 Fl Oz Pure Vanilla Extract)

Exact product I bought in Mexico- there isn't a better tasting vanilla out there. It really does make a difference in your baking.

I received this as a gift from a friend who traveled to Mexico over 10 years ago. When I got to the bottom of the bottle I was so sad because the quality can change your recipe. I have asked several friends who travel to pick me up some and they "forget". I was so pleased to find this on Amazon It cost way more than purchasing in Mexico though it is money well spent.

The villa vainilla I bought in Mexico (left) vs the one I bought here to replace it (right) the left one smells like typical, delicious Mexican vanilla. The new one smells like cheap alcohol and chemicals. The color is disgusting. I’ve shaken the bottle and it’s still looks like piss. Not even going to try to make anything with it because it’s obviously not what I ordered. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

Very high quality and great price.

This vanilla has a subtle flavor and brings out the flavor of the chocolate without being too strong. I love it!

Good flavor, but I still prefer McCormick's. I just add more of it. I tried about five types of Mexican vanilla. They all had completely different flavors. This one was my favorite. I didn't see the point of even using the others and might give them away. This one is different and it will be fun experimenting with it in various recipes, using half of this and half of the regular kind. IT has a more exotic flavor that regular, which, to me is blissfully innocent in its taste. Especially in in custards. I thought this would be just more intensely "vanilla." Instead it adds a more tropical or exotic touch which I was not expecting. The other brands were not as intense as this and the flavors were sort of indescribably "awkward." If I make something with this, I might think, "Oooh, that's an interesting vanilla! " If I ate things made with the others, I'd think, "Hmmn... what favlor IS this?" Not anything like cardamom (which I really like . . . it is SO fragrant and delicate while also being exotic). Not floral. Not pungent. Not spicy or minty. Maybe the word "aromatic," might fit. I think "vanilla" fits more into the mildly floral and slightly sweet category. Now I see why some companies make "bourbon vanilla." I have yet to try that. The bourbon probably turns the vanilla flavor from soft and innocent into strong and bold.(I now must try that and revise the review if I"m wrong.) I thought this might do that without tasting of bourbon. It doesn't. It's a different breed of cat, which I was not expecting.

This is not a typical vanilla extract. I'd say Elixir is more suitable for bitter coffee/chocolate creams with only subtle vanilla. I don't think it's usable for a traditional type of creams or any baking that requires a beautiful, sweet vanilla. It is very strong on alcohol.

It's delicious! Makes everything that requires vanilla better!