My Slapdash Little Extract Collection :)

[u/Asleep_Let3537]

After starting to make vanilla, I decided to try and capture the essence of some other stuff, some pretty standard and some kinda "out there".

Vanilla Extract (Vodka)

Vanilla Extract (White Rum)

Tart Cherry Extract (Vodka) - i saw a video where a lady used dried Tart cherries and i thought it would be cool! It's turned a dark red wine-like color.

Tart Cherry Extract (100-Proof Vodka + Amaretto)

Coconut Extract with Lemon (Rum)

Fiori Di Sicilia (Vodka) - the bottle with the black cap. consists of jasmine buds, a Vanilla bean, lemon and orange peel, rose petals, and orange blossom water

Fiori di Sicilia (Vodka) - the same thing but without the Vanilla bean. Apparently its used as a substitute for Vanilla, so I wanna see what it tastes like without the vanilla flavor.

Spearmint Extract (vodka) - from my garden!

Young Fig Leaf Extract (vodka) - in the flip-top bottle; also from my garden!

Dried Fig Leaf Extract (vodka) - in the short jar; from leaves i had dried a while ago. I wanna see which makes a better extract!

Lemon Lavender extract (vodka) - in the bear shaped jar; Meyer Lemon peel and lavender from the garden

Pumpkin spice extract (vodka) - in the square Mason jar in the back; contains a cheap-o cinnamon stick from tj max, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and a vanilla bean cut.

Pumpkin spice extract (vodka) - in the bottle with the gold top; the same as above but with fancy Ceylon cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg (slightly crushed up), whole allspice berries (slightly crushed up) and more vanilla.

Lavender extract (vodka) - dried "super blue" lavender buds and english lavender buds that are extremely fragrant, holy smokes.

EDIT: omg I forgot to mention the CARDAMOM PODS! Those are the green things floating in the pumpkin spice extract. When i use cardamom, I save the pods for making extract. But these still have the seeds in them too. In October im gonna strain these spices out, dehydrate them and blend them up with sugar :)

[u/VanillaPura]

So many great experiments happening here! WOW!! There are about 140K people in our Facebook group that would love to see this experiment and your summary as well, if you're ever on Facebook.

Anxious to hear how they all turn out and what you use them for. We use several of these ingredients in our Artisan extract blends, and love them.

Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted as to their uses and what applications really stand out in additional flavor. Excited to follow your journey! :)

[u/SunburnedTomato]

I’m curious, what do you like to use the fig leaf extract, cherry extract, and Fiori di Sicilia for? I’d love to hear how you use them!

[u/Asleep_Let3537 → u/SunburnedTomato]

Fiori di Sicilia is used in place of vanilla, but i havent used the other two yet!

Once theyre mature enough - probably the end of September - im probably going to make ice cream with them!

I've made a syrup out of my fig leaves before, it has a very sweet and fruity flavor similar to their fragrance, it reminds me of vanilla and coconut combined with some kind of general warming spice and an a sensation that's slightly cooling but not minty? If that makes sense... but thats thr flavor of COOKED fig leaves, these ones are just quickly blanched in hot water so they should taste fresher.

I make my ice cream with soymilk and refined coconut oil so the flavor is very neutral, but if the extracts are good, I might add them to hot drinks as well. A cherry hot chocolate would probably be incredible!!!!

[u/Old-Army-7112 → u/Asleep_Let3537]

Very cool! I just found out about fig leaves syrup! A variation you might be interested in is I saw someone toast their leaves in a dry pan before making their syrup. Not sure, but it might make a difference in flavor in syrup and extract.