Plain vs Vanilla - Difference and Comparison
Table of Contents
Although most people don't believe there is a difference between plain and vanilla varieties of a product (e.g. yoghurt), there is in fact a difference.
Plain means without any flavor whatsoever. And vanilla is a flavor, even though it's a very mild one. Vanilla flavoring is derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Author Frederic Rosengarten, Jr. described the vanilla flavor in The Book of Spices as "pure, spicy, and delicate" and its complex floral aroma depicted as a "peculiar bouquet." Despite its high cost, vanilla is widely used in both commercial and domestic baking, perfume manufacture and aromatherapy.
Comparison chart
 | Plain | Vanilla |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | None. "Plain" product - such as yogurt - means it is devoid of all flavor. | Mild, delicate flavor. "Vanilla" flavored products |
| Usage when not related to food | When describing items that are not food (e.g. software), plain and vanilla mean the same thing and are often used in conjunction e.g. "plain vanilla ERP software package". It means without any customizations or add-ons. | Same as "plain" |
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"Plain vs Vanilla." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 23 Jun 2022. < >
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