Why We Love Vanilla just as Much as Chocolate

Many cookie manufacturers substitute imitation vanilla and call it “natural flavors” on the label. In taste test after taste test, the real vanilla wins out over fake with a distinctly richer vanilla flavor. The creamy buttery flavor of real vanilla signifies a higher-end baked product that has depth and a great finish.

Almost all vanilla flavoring used in food manufacturing is synthetic. In fact, 98% of vanilla used as a flavor imitation.

The Best Ingredients Make the Best Cookies!

Bart & Judy always use:

All-Natural, Free-Trade Belgian Chocolate

REAL Butter

FRESH Eggs

Madagascar Vanilla (the finest in the world!)

Vanilla is actually a flower and the only edible fruit of the orchid family. There are over 150 varieties of vanilla and it only grows around the Equator, like chocolate.

It originally grew wild in South America and the Caribbean and the Olmec people on the Gulf Coast of Mexico were the first to use it as a flavor for food and drinks.

Vanilla was considered sacred to the ancient civilizations and was an important part of their culture. It was first shipped to Spain in the 1500s and used as perfume. Mexico used to grow all the vanilla but now Madagascar grows the majority of the world’s crop.

Vanilla is the most expensive agricultural crop to grow because of its extremely labor-intensive. It can take up to three years before the flowers appear, and they must be pollinated by hand.

The fruits must stay on the vine for at least nine months to completely develop their signature smell.

After the beans are harvested, they are placed in the sun for months until they have shrunk to 20% of their original size. Then they have to rest for a month or two to finish developing their full flavor and aroma.

By the time they make it into your Bart & Judy’s All Natural Chocolate Chip Cookies, their fragrance is simply intoxicating.

Real Madagascar vanilla is so valuable that there is a problem with thieves stealing it.

Bourbon vanilla is named for an island where it grows. The soil and climate of the island produce a specific rich creamy flavor with buttery undertones.

Tahitian vanilla has a different flavor from Bourbon and is now considered its own species.

There are around 1400 and 2300 tons of dried vanilla produced worldwide each year. This is a lot less than chocolate or coffee.

The authentic reinvention of America’s classic, homemade, chocolate chip cookies. Baked in-house without artificial ingredients or preservatives. (No other cookies can do this)  Less sugar than most other cookies because they don’t require over-sweetness to mask synthesized oils and flavors. Perfect for lunches, daytime snacking, bedtime treats make great mini-ice cream sandwiches and superior gifts for EVERYONE on your gift list!