Bringing Vanilla into Everyday Life
People often ask if there’s a simpler way to use vanilla beans. Today, we’re sharing a healthy and easy drink—Vanilla Soy Milk!This drink combines natural vanilla beans with unsweetened soy milk. During heating, vanillin from the beans is released, producing a rich vanilla aroma. It’s a perfect choice for breakfast, afternoon tea, or as a base for other recipes.For a richer aroma, you can add homemade vanilla sugar. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have an elegant and healthy drink!
Ingredients for Vanilla Soy Milk
Essential Ingredients：
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Unsweetened soy milk
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Vanilla bean (ratio: 1 vanilla bean per 1 liter of soy milk)
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Vanilla sugar (add to taste)
Tips：
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Unsweetened soy milk better highlights the vanilla aroma and allows flexibility in adjusting sweetness.
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For a smoother texture, choose a refined soy milk brand or make your own from scratch.
How to Choose Vanilla Products
Pairing Taiwanese Soy Milk with Taiwanese Vanilla Beans—The Authentic Taiwanese Flavor!In this recipe, vanilla beans are simmered together with soy milk, and vanilla sugar is added sparingly. This recipe makes full use of vanilla beans. We recommend the 16-18 cm vanilla beans cultivated by Vanilla Farmer, which are rich in seeds! (Visit the store:Taiwan Bourbon Vanilla Beans）
How to Make Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients：
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1 vanilla bean
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白砂糖
Steps：
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Split the vanilla bean, scrape out the seeds, and mix them thoroughly with white sugar.
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Place the pod along with the sugar into a sealed jar and let it sit to infuse the aroma into the sugar.
Tip: The prepared vanilla sugar can be stored for several months. It’s perfect for drinks, desserts, and baking.
Vanilla Soy Milk Recipe
Preparing Soy Milk and Vanilla Beans
- Pour unsweetened soy milk into a pot.
- Split the vanilla bean, scrape out the seeds, and add both the seeds and pod to the soy milk.
Simmering the Soy Milk
Heat over medium-low heat, stirring continuously to prevent burning, until the soy milk starts to bubble slightly.
Adding Vanilla Sugar
After boiling, add an appropriate amount of vanilla sugar according to your taste to enhance the vanilla aroma.
Tip: If sugar is not suitable, you can skip this step, but a small amount of sugar enhances the vanilla flavor.
Finishing and Straining
After simmering, you can strain the soy milk to remove the vanilla pod and any clumped vanilla seeds.
Serving and Storage Methods for Vanilla Soy Milk
Serving Suggestions：
Drink It Plain: Enjoy the natural sweetness and aroma of vanilla soy milk, perfect for breakfast or a late-night snack.
Pair with Snacks: Use it as a dip for croissants, steamed buns, or toast to enhance the flavor layers.
Use in Cooking: For dishes like vanilla soy milk noodles, use soy milk as a soup base, add noodles and vegetables for a healthy, creative meal.
Storage Methods：
The source of soy milk affects the storage method for vanilla soy milk. Here are two common storage suggestions:
1. Using Pre-made Chilled/Hot Soy Milk to Make Vanilla Soy Milk
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Storage Tip：
After heating chilled soy milk, cool it quickly by placing the pot in an ice bath. Once it reaches room temperature, transfer it to a clean, sealed container and refrigerate.
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Shelf Life：
It is recommended to consume refrigerated vanilla soy milk within 24 hours to preserve flavor and safety.
2. Making Vanilla Soy Milk Using Homemade Soy Milk
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Storage Tip：
After cooking homemade soy milk using a soy milk maker, cool it to room temperature quickly, then store it in clean, sealed containers in the refrigerator. For large quantities, divide it into smaller portions for convenience.
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Shelf Life：
Homemade soy milk should be consumed within 2-3 days. Since it lacks preservatives, its shelf life is shorter than pre-made soy milk, so special care is needed for storage.
General Storage Guidelines
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Rapid Cooling：
After heating, soy milk should be cooled to room temperature quickly before refrigeration to avoid remaining in the danger zone (40°C-60°C) for too long, which promotes bacterial growth. -
Sealed Storage：
Store soy milk in clean, sealed containers to prevent cross-contamination with other food items in the refrigerator. -
Avoid Reheating Repeatedly：
If reheating refrigerated soy milk, it’s recommended to consume it in one sitting to avoid repeated reheating and refrigeration, which can affect flavor and safety. -
Quality Check：
Discard refrigerated soy milk immediately if it develops an off smell, separation, or signs of souring.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanilla Soy Milk
Why does soy milk have a burnt taste?
It’s likely due to excessive heat or insufficient stirring during cooking. Use medium-low heat and stir continuously.
Can vanilla sugar replace regular sugar?
Yes, vanilla sugar can replace regular sugar. It enhances overall aroma and is best used in small amounts to accentuate flavor.
Can vanilla soy milk be served cold?
Yes, chilled vanilla soy milk has a refreshing aroma and is a great choice for summer beverages.
