Difference Between Vanilla and French Vanilla

Table of Contents

Every meal is incomplete without sweets. Desserts complete the meal and the taste of desserts is favorite of taste buds. Desserts can be of a large variety, depending on the availability in the region and many desserts are seasonal too.

Ice Creams are seasonal but people love to have ice cream in any season. Predominantly ice cream is the dessert for summer. The richness and the creamy texture of ice cream are admired by all age groups. Different countries have different  types of desserts, the climate and taste of people.

Ice creams have different varieties as per the demands of customers for example popsicles, bars, pint, ice cream rolls etc.. One of the most basic flavours in ice cream is vanilla which can be customised more in different things. Other than ice cream vanilla is a flavour which is used in several other things for example vanilla essence is used in cakes or pastries.

Vanilla vs French Vanilla

The main difference between Vanilla and French Vanilla is the base of ice cream. Vanilla and French vanilla are entirely different from each other and the difference is visible between both of them easily.

Comparison Table Between Vanilla and French Vanilla

Parameters of Comparison VanillaFrench Vanilla
Colour of ice creamWhite Yellow
Use of egg yolkNot  usedUsed
Type of baseIce cream basedCustard based
Heating processNot usedUsed
Vanilla flecksAddedStrained

What is Vanilla? 

Predominantly Vanilla is the fruit of orchid in genus vanilla which is also known as Vanilla bean. Vanilla essence is produced by soaking Vanilla beans in alcohol to extract the flavour of vanilla which is used in several things for example cakes, cookies, etc..

Vanilla Bean varieties are often named from where they are grown, for example, Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico. although this is not the case with French vanilla. Vanilla is used for ice cream which is paler and white.

The vanilla ice cream contains a base of cream, sugar, vanilla essence, salt, and milk. All ingredients are mixed and with the help of some professional stabilizers, ice cream is prepared for commercial sale.

The vanilla ice cream Is the most basic flavour which is also used in manufacturing other flavoured ice creams for example rocky road or fruit punch. Sometimes  Vanilla flecks are added in the ice cream and these ice creams do not require any heat process.

Vanilla is typically ice cream based ice cream and it is a common flavour which is available in most parts of the world. It is also used as a fragrance which is mixed with fruity floral sense to make a different fragrance.

The basic vanilla ice cream can have different ingredients like instead of sugar sometimes sugar-free as sensors are used or instead of cream and full-fat milk, low-fat milk is used to create a healthy version of basic vanilla ice cream. 

There are numerous branches available across the world which manufacture vanilla ice cream with basic ingredients without the authentic recipe of the ice cream. The creaminess might differ from brand to brand. 

What is French Vanilla?

French vanilla is a flavour in ice cream different from regular vanilla. Although French vanilla ice cream is also made from Vanilla Beans, from which regular vanilla ice cream is prepared but the difference lies in other ingredients.

French vanilla ice cream contains egg yolk in the bass which the regular vanilla ice cream does not contain. The use of egg yolk makes the  French vanilla ice cream somewhat yellowish. Other ingredients in French vanilla ice cream are; cream,  milk,  sugar, salt, and egg yolks. Vanilla flecks are often strained from ice cream.

The use of egg yolks is done to provide the cream in as to the base, therefore French vanilla ice cream is more creamy in texture as compared to regular vanilla ice cream. French vanilla is often confused that the  Vanilla beans are produced in France but it is not like that the French vanilla ice cream is given the name due to eggs in it.

French vanilla ice cream is a custard-based ice cream which requires heating in the process of preparation of ice cream. French vanilla is both a taste and a scent that transcends vanilla ice cream.

French vanilla ice cream is often preferred over regular vanilla ice cream due to its richness and creamy texture in the base. The ingredients can be customized for example, instead of sugar, sugar- free essence could be used or instead of full-fat milk or cream low-fat milk or cream could be used but it will deteriorate the texture of the French vanilla ice cream.

Main Differences Between Vanilla and French Vanilla

  • Vanilla ice cream is white whereas, French vanilla ice cream is yellow.
  • French vanilla ice cream contains egg yolk, on the other hand vanilla ice cream does not contain egg yolk.
  • Vanilla ice cream is an ice cream-based ice cream on contrary, French vanilla ice cream is custard-based ice cream.
  • In vanilla ice cream vanilla flecks are incorporated in the ingredients whereas, in French vanilla ice cream vanilla flecks are strained.
  • In vanilla ice cream heating process is not required, on the other hand in French vanilla ice cream heating process is required.
  • Conclusion

    Vanilla ice cream and French vanilla ice cream are two different flavours of ice cream but the only difference between them is the use of egg yolks in French vanilla ice cream.

    Both of them are admired equally but  French vanilla ice cream is more admired as compared to regular vanilla ice cream due to its richness and the creamy texture.

    Both of them are prepared with the same kind of vanilla beans. 

    References

  • https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1097-0010(200002)80:3%3C289::AID-JSFA543%3E3.0.CO;2-2
  • https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-4603.2008.00143.x
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