sticksandbones | (no subject)

It sure can. The artificial vanillin that goes into it is often a by-product of wood pulp processing, in fact.

[Bark in root beer, yes. Bark in vanilla?!]

Ah... that does not sound appetizing in the least. Are vanilla orchids not plentiful?

Doesn't it?

Genuine vanilla is incredibly hard to get. The flowers are delicate and have to be hand-pollinated, as said above. You'll spend a fortune just on B-grade beans, let alone the really good stuff.

[That's so.]

It sounds like you are from a similar world to the others? Is it common to have such a lack of goods?

Only when it comes to certain things. For most anything, you can find what you need somewhere. Things that take a lot of time and effort, like vanilla, go for a higher price because of all the extra labor involved in the process.

That's why things like artificial vanilla were created. The quality is often much lower than the more expensive option, but it's cheaper and more widely available, and to the untrained taste buds it tastes relatively the same.

It always amazes me to see the differences between worlds! Vanilla orchids are quite common in my home land, as well as vanilla beans! In fact, they are a main staple of our diet. The idea they are scarce elsewhere is truly fascinating.

[What sort of desolate ass worlds...]

[what sort of world has vanilla beans as a staple crop--]

Fascinating. What makes them so prevalent? Do they not have trouble with pollination?

[One that has a Vanilla Kingdom, duh.]

Oh not at all. Our bees are always quite busy and they have no issues pollinating our orchids! I do believe it helps our climate is quite warm year round.

Ah, that would explain it. Ours grow in tropical climates, but even then, they're extremely sensitive. Yours must be a more hardy type.

I see! We do have tropical climes as well, but indeed, our vanilla plants do best in warm but not overly so weather! I believe they might not thrive as such were the land itself not well situated for it, they are still rather delicate!

Sounds like you're set up for the perfect environment, then. No wonder you don't have as much of an issue.

Just be thankful you don't have to deal with the imitation stuff. It can get a pass in some things, I suppose, but when the vanilla is supposed to shine through as the star of the dish in things like ice cream or custard, the real deal is crucial.

I must admit, I am quite curious as to what artificial tastes like. I understand it lacks the complex nature of real vanilla, yet it cannot be that bad, surely? Else it would not be used, correct?

In the greater span of things, there are far worse flavors than fake vanilla. To each their own - I'm just picky. If I'm going to eat something, I'm going for quality. Why get cheap, thoughtlessly-made soft-serve when I can go somewhere else and get something genuine?

[The idea it can be cheap and thoughtlessly made - when every Cookie life is a deliberate and quite an involved process - utterly baffles Pure Vanilla. He understands it's not the same, but that it can just be created with no love behind it...]

I must admit, I cannot wrap my thoughts around that. Though I do understand why the artificial is produced - it would be unfair to keep a flavor locked away to a select few simply because of it's scarcity - surely with a little bit of love there would be ways to make the flavor richer?

[welcome to capitalism neku dot mp3]

Hard to say. Emphasis these days is often put on quantity over quality, which is why I seek out quality. Love is, after all, the world's best secret ingredient. The most basic cookies made by a mother and child on a boring rainy day taste better than even the most expensive cookies sold on store shelves en masse.

[Blugh. Though he understands it - Cookies are confections and only confections from many peoples worlds - the idea that they can be made en masse for eating... It sounds like the Dessert Tower. Lifeless soulless confections as far as can see.]

I see. That is quite a dreary thought. Though I suppose for a quick, sweet treat [Ugh.] it is enough. But you are quite correct, there is nothing quite like that made with love.

[Explains why he and Lily could never create a living cookie body...]

It's enough for people that don't care, sure. But still an insult to the true thing nonetheless.

Lucky for me, I'm not much of a sweets guy. I prefer savory and salty. But even so, there's really no reason to shirk on quality regardless of the flavor. The pressures of capitalism can be a real inspiration killer.

[Oh thank god they're moving away from the idea of soulless sweets.]

Capitalism? I am unfamiliar with this word. But it does not sound like a good thing to have.

It's something, for sure. It's an economic system where the means of production of goods and services are owned by private entities and operated for profit. Food, water, clothing, healthcare, everything has to be purchased. And if you don't have money... well.

With that explanation, though, it's easy to see how someone under pressure to make enough money to survive might suffer a bit of creative burn-out.

Edited 2024-03-06 03:04 (UTC)

[Excuse him, but what.]

That is a horrible system! Do you truly mean to say those that do not have the required money go without?!

Surviving is not living! This is a cruelty... Is this like this in your world all over?

[isn't it great doesn't it just SUCK]

Unfortunately. Some places are better than others. It really depends on the country. In Japan, where I'm from, you can take an ambulance to the hospital for free, but I've heard that in the United States, that alone can cost you thousands of dollars on top of all the other medical costs.

Which is a lot, by the way.

[How can he proper express his righteous fury at that idea? That - okay he's not sure what ambulance is but he understands what a hospital is so he can guess - you have to pay to be taken to a place to be seen?!

Pure Vanilla has no words. He is truly disgusted.]

Does your world not care for their fellows?!

The ones in charge sure don't seem to, that's for sure.

Luckily, it seems like most of humanity does. It's the bad apples that spoil the barrel. But in times of adversity, they band together. Fundraisers, charities, food drives, you name it. There are people looking out for others.

[Ah, that mollifies him a bit.]

Good... that gladdens me. As long as there is kindness and love in their hearts, I believe they will overcome this... capitalism and remember what it means to truly live. But to truly think those in the position of power - the position to do what is right - have lost their way so thoroughly...

Unfortunately, that's what greed does. It blinds them to the plight of others, and they're only worried about themselves.

You sound like you're in the other camp, though. Believing in people, and all that. Very humanitarian.

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hee hee hoo hoo

peepaw hates it

you're welcome peepaw

return to sender

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