what are “natural flavors” on ingredients labels and how do we extract them?
In: Chemistry
It’s just an umbrella term to protect their recipe. It could be anything from mint flavor to vanilla to natural alternatives to familiar flavors like fake vanilla made from wood extract.
They’re extracted by taking natural substances and using solvents, often times alcohol, to extract and hold on to the flavor.
Vanilla extract, for example, you can make at home by soaking vanilla beans in vodka or everclear for a few weeks/months.
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