DIYFS Holy Vanilla - am I missing something?

submitted about 8 years ago by ShittyStrawman

As a lover of all things vanilla, I knew I had to get my hands on some DIYFS HV.

As I'm from the UK, I got mine from Chef's flavours.

I made two bottles, one at 2% and the other at 3% (both seemingly within "normal" boundaries).

Initially they both just tasted like caster sugar and vanillin, but hey, it's vanilla, so let it steep, right?

After two weeks of steeping they don't taste better at all.

Just a VERY "cheap" and flat tasting vanilla extract + caster sugar.

Are there any known issues with chef's flavours batches of DIYFS? In the past I've always found their service to be spot on.

Maybe it's just hype, but thus far this concentrate seems useless to me (from what I've read from other vanilla heads, that can't be right)

Anyone care to weigh in?

Comments

12 points

by leapinglabratsabout 8 years ago

I've stopped buying into hypes, but I had to learn that lesson the hard way. What you will get is just another concentrate that has a time and a place, like all the others. Not the ultimate end all be all that fits perfectly anywhere you put it, like the hype would have you believe. It will be one of the better flavors, if you happen to like it, but it won't knock your socks off. Granted, there are flavors that do that, but those are the ones you stumble upon without any expectation. Just like with movies; the higher your expectation, the bigger the disappointment, and vice versa.

6 points

by ID10-Tabout 8 years agoWinner of the 2nd DIYorDIE World Mixing Championship

Not everyone likes everything or even perceives everything the same way. It definitely tastes like grocery store vanilla extract to me. That's what I like about it.

What's your favorite vanilla?

3 points

by leapinglabratsabout 8 years ago

I'm a big fan of plain vanillin and find it odd that it's so rarely seen in recipes. Unlike most other vanillas, there's no cream, no wooden (unless you overdo it) or caramelly notes, just a plain, bright, slightly sweet vanilla flavor that is very unintrusive and doesn't mess with the other flavors. It just sits there in a layer of its own. Also basically free if you get crystals and make your own, and as a bonus you can slip a pinch into your cooking now and then. I digress.

3 points

by Baphometabout 8 years agoOne of "The Damned"

Agreed. The ethereal top note is what I love about vanillin -- tends to bring a mysterious sort of brightness to other vanillas when you've managed to fall out of love with them or they've gone stale to your palate... Amazing with citrus creams, particularly with orange.

3 points

by VAPORMARKabout 8 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

My favorite vanilla is Holy Vanilla.

I recently got some ethyl-vanillin, it is quite special, too.

5 points

by HashSlingingSlashurabout 8 years ago

I like it best in a 2:1 ratio with shisha Vanilla, never above 1.5%

So like 1.5% holy v and 0.75% shisha; or less of both.

Also, you may enjoy thier french vanilla more. I like both and can't pick a favorite because I usually use 2 or more vanillas when I want a strong Vanilla taste

3 points

by Plushpabout 8 years ago

I personally find it a bit spicier than any other vanilla's I've used (Shisha, FA Bourbon, Madagascar and Tahity, Vanilla Swirl etc)

That's why I like it though, I use it to strengthen a darker, spicier vanilla note if that's what I want from the recipe.

Nothing ever lives up to the hype in my opinion, it's still a good flavouring though.

Admittedly, I've always used layers of Vanilla's in recipes, one is never enough lol.

2 points

by throwawayeg3about 8 years ago

This is a great post. A+
I have also found that mixing caramels (FW Caramel Candy, FA Caramel), bourbon whisky (TFA Kentucky Bourbon, FLV Bourbon, FA Whisky), ice creams (CAP VBIC, FW VBIC, LB VIC), and melons (CAP Honeydew Melon, FA Cantaloupe, TFA Honeydew) adds so much depth depending on the percentages between the variation.

3 points

by RinVapesabout 8 years ago

I like it quite a bit. However, I've foregone using it for the most part as it seems to take over/mute many things I've mixed it with. It almost caused a vapor tongue effect where nothing I was mixing tasted right after having used Holy Vanilla. Very frustrating.

1 points

by leapinglabratsabout 8 years ago

I get that with INW Shisha Vanilla, even below 1% it can put a massive damper on the whole profile.

1 points

by pm_me_your_ratchetsabout 8 years ago

I usually add 1-1.5% to any mix I make which I think will help a cream get more vanilla taste. So if I make a strawberry/cream mix, holy vanilla will turn it into a strawberry vanilla ice cream kind of blend. I use it especially often with cheesecake or custard heavy mixes. Give it a little extra creamy vanilla flavor

-5 points

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