Best known for its Adams Best Vanilla, the Adams Extract & Spice Company located in Gonzales produces a large variety of spices and blends, some marketed under private labels. Founded in 1888, Adams is one of the oldest continually operated Spice and Extract companies in the United States. Legend has that it all started with John Adams trying to solve a problem his wife was having with her baking. The vanilla products she was using seemed to “bake out.” When Mrs. Adams expressed her delight with the results of John’s new concoction, he replied, “Well, that’s old man Adams’ best” and the name Adams Best Vanilla was coined.
Selling the product door-to-door with sons, Fred and Don turned into a thriving business when Fred graduated from the University of Texas in 1922. Fred purchased the company and moved the production to Austin, expanding the product line to include the introduction of the Red Velvet Cake during the Great Depression and the food coloring four-pack sold today. Under new ownership since 2002, the company continues to build on the Adams Brands and has achieved national distribution. In Gonzales, the company employs over 100 people and supports community activities. The Adams Extract & Spice award nomination was supported by Senator Glenn Hegar and Rep. John Keumpel.
