Adams Extract
Encyclopedia
Adams Extract, owned by Adams Extract and Spice LLC. , operates a full service spice
and extract packaging and manufacturing facility in Gonzales, Texas
. Best known for its Adams Best Vanilla, it also sells product under the Adams Spice, Adams Extract, Adams Reserve and Culinary Tonight brands. In addition Adams spices, extract and seasoning
blends are found in many private label brands around the country as well as being used to season many commercially produced meat
and food
products.
Founded in 1888, Adams is one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas
and one of oldest Spice and Extract companies in the United States
.
, began selling extracts in Michigan
in 1888. In 1905, he moved the family to Beeville, Texas
. His wife was unhappy with the quality of the vanilla extract
products available because she felt like they either baked or froze out. Mr. Adams decided to formulate one for her. When his wife tried the product, she was delighted and John replied, "Well, that's old man Adam's best." His vanilla extract became known as Adams Best Vanilla.
Mr. Adams along with the help of his sons, Fred and Don, began to produce, package, and sell the vanilla extract door to door with a complete money back guarantee
. After graduating from UT Austin, Fred purchased the company from his father and felt it best to relocate the production headquarters to Austin, Texas
. In 1922, he built a 2 story building downtown and continued production of the extracts. His son, John G. Adams,Sr., worked in the family business throughout his childhood, and after receiving his BA in Chemistry
from UT, he returned and helped expand the lines produced. In 1947, he designed and built the food colouring line that is still sold today.
In 1955, the company built a new plant on I-35 that helped aide in the expansion of the products to include spice lines in 1959.
The Adams Extract building continued production in Austin, TX under direction of John G. Adams, Sr. from the Adams Family until 2002. In that year, the company was purchased and relocated its facility to Gonzales, Texas. It is still producing a full line of spices, and of course, the Adams Best Vanilla and food colouring line.
In 2009, the movie Extract (film)
was released and based on the childhood memories creator and director Mike Judge had of the Adams Extract Plant in Austin, TX.
In mid-July 2011 Adams Best Vanilla, 6 other extracts, and food colours were added as a feature product in the popular Apple iTunes app, "Cupcakes!".
See *Boneyard Media » Blog Archive » Adams Extract Building, Austin, TX (1955-2002), Pt. 2. 2009 movie Extract by Mike Judge was inspired by his childhood memories of the Adams Extract Plant in Austin, Texas.
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
and extract packaging and manufacturing facility in Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
. Best known for its Adams Best Vanilla, it also sells product under the Adams Spice, Adams Extract, Adams Reserve and Culinary Tonight brands. In addition Adams spices, extract and seasoning
Seasoning
Seasoning is the process of imparting flavor to, or improving the flavor of, food.- General meaning :Seasonings include herbs and spices, which are themselves frequently referred to as "seasonings"...
blends are found in many private label brands around the country as well as being used to season many commercially produced meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
and food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
products.
Founded in 1888, Adams is one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and one of oldest Spice and Extract companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
John Anderson Adams, a pharmacistPharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
, began selling extracts in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1888. In 1905, he moved the family to Beeville, Texas
Beeville, Texas
Beeville is a city in Bee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,129 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bee County...
. His wife was unhappy with the quality of the vanilla extract
Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is a solution containing the flavor compound vanillin. Pure vanilla extract is made by macerating and percolating vanilla beans in a solution of ethyl alcohol and water. In the United States, in order for a vanilla extract to be called pure, the U.S...
products available because she felt like they either baked or froze out. Mr. Adams decided to formulate one for her. When his wife tried the product, she was delighted and John replied, "Well, that's old man Adam's best." His vanilla extract became known as Adams Best Vanilla.
Mr. Adams along with the help of his sons, Fred and Don, began to produce, package, and sell the vanilla extract door to door with a complete money back guarantee
Money back guarantee
A money-back guarantee is essentially a simple guarantee that, if a buyer is not satisfied with a product or service, a refund will be made....
. After graduating from UT Austin, Fred purchased the company from his father and felt it best to relocate the production headquarters to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. In 1922, he built a 2 story building downtown and continued production of the extracts. His son, John G. Adams,Sr., worked in the family business throughout his childhood, and after receiving his BA in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from UT, he returned and helped expand the lines produced. In 1947, he designed and built the food colouring line that is still sold today.
In 1955, the company built a new plant on I-35 that helped aide in the expansion of the products to include spice lines in 1959.
The Adams Extract building continued production in Austin, TX under direction of John G. Adams, Sr. from the Adams Family until 2002. In that year, the company was purchased and relocated its facility to Gonzales, Texas. It is still producing a full line of spices, and of course, the Adams Best Vanilla and food colouring line.
In 2009, the movie Extract (film)
Extract (film)
Extract is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. Extract stars Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Dustin Milligan, J. K. Simmons, and Ben Affleck. Judge also makes an uncredited appearance as 'Jim', a union organizer....
was released and based on the childhood memories creator and director Mike Judge had of the Adams Extract Plant in Austin, TX.
In mid-July 2011 Adams Best Vanilla, 6 other extracts, and food colours were added as a feature product in the popular Apple iTunes app, "Cupcakes!".
Other Related Information
See *http://www.newsstremz.com/2010/05/13/lbj-museum-of-san-marcos-celebrates-university UNIVERSITY STAR, a student run newspaper for Texas State University in San Marcos. This newspaper was established in 1911 by Fred Adams, second owner of Adams Extract Co.See *Boneyard Media » Blog Archive » Adams Extract Building, Austin, TX (1955-2002), Pt. 2. 2009 movie Extract by Mike Judge was inspired by his childhood memories of the Adams Extract Plant in Austin, Texas.
External links
- Not Just Plain Vanilla - Food - The Austin Chronicle
- Adams Extract & Spice LLC | Company profile from Hoover's
- Adams Extract & Spice, LLC: Private Company Information - BusinessWeek
- http://www.txtell.lib.utexas.edu/stories/a0002-full.html
- Boneyard Media » Blog Archive » Adams Extract Building, Austin, TX (1955-2002), Pt. 3
- Adams Extract - Welcome