Watkins
Incorporated, of Winona, Minnesota, is one company that has become
famous for its fine vanilla products. Founded by J. R. Watkins in
1868, Watkins is the oldest direct-selling company in the world.
"Direct-selling" means that the products are not sold in
stores; they may only be purchased from a Watkins Associate.
According
to the best available records, The J. R. Watkins Medical Company began
manufacturing & selling Watkins Vanilla in 1895.
J. R. Watkins dedication to quality was legendary; it was he who, with
his 11 fluid-ounce "Trial Mark" bottle, instituted North
America's first money-back guarantee. Watkins Vanilla,
superior in flavor to even the best store brands, quickly
became a staple of the farmhouse kitchen.
Watkins
Vanilla gained international acclaim when it was awarded the
Grand Prix with Gold Medal at the Paris International Exposition in
1928.
Watkins has produced a variety of vanilla products over the past
century, the most famous of which is Watkins Original Double
Strength Vanilla Extract. Watkins Vanilla
starts with the very best whole vanilla beans (no "splits"),
all from Madagascar, & with moisture levels in the optimum range
of 21-23%.
A
vanilla "perk" is made, just as with a regular vanilla
extract. Once "brewed," it 's fortified with to make the
flavor resistant to degradation by heat or freezing (both possible
with vanilla extracts), & to make the product double-strength. The
vanilla is carefully aged, & has a very low alcohol level (8.25%),
which makes it even more heat-resistant.
The
result is a product that is not only more economical than other
vanilla extracts, but whose flavor is actually preferred by most
people (its flavor profile is a bit sweeter & more intense than
pure vanilla). Needless to say, it is far superior to any other
vanilla.
For
those who are willing to pay the premium for top quality, Watkins also
makes Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract. The same
top-grade Bourbon vanilla beans are used in making a classic vanilla
extract that easily stands up to the world's best.
Order
Watkins Vanilla Here
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Smell
the Difference
You can do this yourself or share this demo with a friend. Take
a Q-tip, dip it in Watkins Vanilla and put it on your right thumb.
(Right thumb for the right vanilla <wink>). Rub your thumb
against your fingers until it is dry, then smell it. Do the same with
any other brand of vanilla but put it on your left thumb. You will
immediately notice the difference!
In
a blind taste test, it was found to be far superior to the industry's
best-selling pure vanilla (the panelists were divided between Watkins
Pure Vanilla & Watkins Original Double Strength
as the overwhelming favorites).
This
fine Pure Vanilla is recommended where true vanilla flavor, with all
its delicate notes of tobacco, fruit and wood, is a must. However, it
is not at its best in instances where extremely high cooking
temperatures can damage the flavor, such as in commercial baking &
candy making.
Finally,
Watkins makes a Watkins Double Strength Imitation White
Vanilla Flavor. This crystal-clear formula is designed not to
discolor white foods, such as frostings, whipped creams & wedding
cakes. Because it is colorless, it contains no real vanilla (vanilla
cannot be made clear); however, the expert blending of its flavors
makes it a very close match to its darker sister, & its flavor
stability has made it a resounding favorite with bakers.
Whichever
Watkins Vanilla you choose to buy, you can rest assured that you have
purchased the very finest... it's all Watkins has ever sold during a
hundred years plus in the vanilla business.
Watkins
still offers a complete money-back guarantee; it's been that way
since Watkins Vanilla was first sold in the Trial-Mark glass bottle
(so named because the customer could use the product down to the mark
and still get a refund if not satisfied). Today, the Trial-Mark bottle
is still used, as a modern, light-weight, shatter-resistant plastic
version.
A
Word About Mexican Vanilla
Mexico does not grow enough vanilla beans to satisfy their own
needs so they use the tonka bean for much of their vanilla. It has a
close but slightly more bitter taste. But the tonka bean contains
coumarin which is poisonous to the body. In the US and Canada, the
governments have banned the use of the tonka bean in vanilla because
it can cause liver damage. Don't use this vanilla for your family.
Even a little can hurt them.
