system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are vanilla flavored items always white, when the bean itself is dark?
gpt
Vanilla flavored items are typically flavored using vanilla extract, as opposed to using the actual bean. The extract is made by submerging the beans in a liquid solution which then absorbs the flavor. The vanilla extract is actually yellowish. This is why a lot of vanilla ice cream has a yellow tint. If the ice cream is pure white, then it has likely been flavored using imitation vanilla flavor instead of real vanilla extract. This is common in cheaper products because vanilla extract can get expensive.