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Natural Vanillin is the major component of the vanilla beans. It is present as a white crystalline material on the vanilla beans. Natural Vanillin is the main source of vanilla flavoring. Vanilla beans also contain other flavoring compounds in minor amounts which are lost during extraction.

The Halal vanilla powder can be obtained by crushing the vanilla beans without alcohol extraction. If a company claims that it has alcohol free vanilla powder then it has to be crushed vanilla beans without alcohol extraction.

Vanilla is subjected to alcohol/water extraction of natural vanillin from the vanilla beans for various vanilla products such as vanilla extract, pure vanilla, vanilla flavor or vanilla flavoring, pure vanilla powder, vanilla paste and vanilla bean specks or seeds. Vanilla extraction of vanilla beans with a solution of alcohol and water yields four folds strength. Then with heat and pressure, the liquid is driven out to make concentrated vanilla which is also called vanilla oleoresin. Vanilla can be sold into one to several folds; one fold being the lowest in vanilla flavor.

Vanilla, Pure Vanilla, Natural Vanilla, Vanilla Flavor, Vanilla Flavoring, Vanilla Powder, Vanilla Specks and Vanilla Extract, all these products are made after vanilla extraction with alcohol and water. They all contaminated with alcohol, even if the alcohol is evaporated in case of vanilla powder, Natural vanillin from vanilla beans is not subjected to washing with water so that alcohol is washed away. Vanilla flavor after alcohol/water extraction is subjected to spray drying to make vanilla powder.

The vanilla standards are available at the “Ingredient section” of our web site. According to FDA regulation for vanilla extract, it must contain a minimum of 35% ethyl alcohol by volume and any thing less than 35% alcohol; it should be labeled as vanilla flavor. So all the vanilla flavors conatins less than 35% alcohol.

Alcohol is used to hold the natural vanillin as a flavoring matter of vanilla beans in suspension.

Pure Vanilla powder is obtained by spray drying the vanilla extract with a carrier such as dextrose or maltodextrin where alcohol is evaporated. This pure vanilla powder is not considered Halal because it is obtained from vanilla extract containing alcohol. Our ulema said that the vanilla extract containing alcohol has to be chemically changed to a new thing, here it is not the case, only alcohol is evaporated and natural vanillin from vanilla beans is contaminated with najus alcohol.

Vanilla bean specks or seeds are obtained from previously extracted beans through drying, chopping and sifting method. Here again, previously extracted bean is contaminated with alcohol.

Pure vanilla paste is made of pure vanilla extract and vanilla bean specks or seeds in the form of syrup with a thickener.

According MCG’s ulema all of the above vanilla products except crushed vanilla bean powder without alcohol extraction are considered not Halal. Other ulema may have different views, so please contact your Islamic scholar on this issue.