I would like to purchase some violet flavoring. I live and work in
Skagway Alaska so I am expecting to have it delivered by plane or
boat. I live two and a half hours drive from White Horse in Canada.
The last time I was able to find this was about six years ago in a
small cake decorating shop in Seattle Washington called "Home Cake
Decorator". They are still in business howerever the owner told me
this item was no longer available. I believe the product I used before
was an artificial flavoring used in candy making. I am a pastry chef
and I find all sorts of things to do with it in my desserts.
I am open to buying this from outside of the U.S.
I think the company that made it before was Schilling but I am not
positive and I don't have any with me up here in Alaska.
It came in a small flavoring bottle, had a great violet flavor, smell
and of course the color was violet.
I paid about $3.00 a bottle about 2 ounces each. I am not in any hurry
for this but would sure love to find some.
Thanks

Hi --

Frustrating, isn't it?  You find a product that does just what you
want it to, then the next time you want to buy some, it's nowhere to
be found.  I found plenty of information about violet oils and the
like for *non-food* uses, but little on food-grade violet "flavor."

These websites include lists of flavorings, including violet, intended
for consumption.  I suggest you email them, explain your situation,
and try to find out if their products are similar to the one you used.
 They might also refer you to their distributors.

Fleurchem, Inc.
http://www.fleurchem.com/flavor.html

Blue Pacific Fragrance and Flavors
http://www.bluepacificflavors.com/products-essentialoils.asp

And you're right -- Schilling
(http://www.mccormick.com/mc/index.cfm)doesn't include a violet
extract on it's website, but I encourage you to email them as well
since you think they used to market such a product. I've had pretty
good luck with companies before in the course of tracking something
down, and have found most to be helpful if not especially speedy.

Best wishes, and I hope these sites will be helpful to you in your
search.

authorshelper

---

Clarification of Answer by authorshelper-ga on 22 Jun 2002 14:45 PDT

Search terms that worked:

"artificial flavors" -no

And sorry about the typo in the Schilling paragraph ... should read "its website."

authorshelper

This has proved to be a tricky question - I'm afraid I've drawn a
blank. There seems to be a Korean company which manufactures it in
industrial quantities (
http://www.samjungflavor.co.kr/eng/htm/center.htm ) but I can't find
an Alaskan or even a US importer. Have you considered making your own
from real flowers, or would that be too time-consuming?

How about Creme de Violette (a 50 proof liqueur)? According to the
Cocktail Database, it is not sold in the U.S.

http://cocktaildb.com/ingredients/ingredient.py?id=1885


But evidently it is sold in the U.K., and they will ship to America.

http://www.sallyclarke.com/sclive/shop/products/Wines.html 
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/violet/msg0916294114801.html


Also, there appears to be an alternative made in America: a very sweet
liqueur named Creme Yvette. It is manufactured by Charles Jacquin in
Philadelphia.

CONTACT
 Norton J. Cooper 
 2633 Trenton Ave. 
 Philadelphia
 PA 19125

PHONE 215-425-9300 or 800-523-3811 
FAX 800-523-9438

a search for "violet extract" gives:

http://www.webcom.com/mars/ceuforum/Read/986.html
"I quote from: 

'Henley's Twentieth Century Book of ten Thousand Formulas, Processes
and Trade Secrets' Published by the Norman Henley Publishing
Company....................

CONFECTIONERY 
"Violet Flavor for Candy-- Violet flavors, like violet perfumes, are
very complex mixtures, and their imitation is a correspondingly
difficult undertaking. The basis is vanilla (or vanillin), rose, and
orris, with a very little of some pungent oil to bring up the flavor.
The following will give a basis upon which satisfactory flavor may be
built:
Oil of orris..............1 drachm 
Oil of Rose.............1 drachm 
Vanillin...................2 drachms 
Cumarin.................30 grains 
Oil of Clove............30 minims 
Alcohol....................11 ounces 
Water.......................5 ounces 
Make a solution, adding the water last. " 
"
if you want to make your own!