Real Vanilla - How can you buy it inexpensively?

Anne

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

Vanilla has doubled in price in the last year. I use a lot, and have had to pay $20 for a 16 oz. bottle of Tone's pure vanilla extract at Sam's Club. I know that's outrageous, but break that down to the little bottles of an ounce or two, and it's a deal. I hope someone can come up with a less expensive brand.

Find someone going to Mexico and get some there. It is good vanilla and very inexpensive. Some import shops will carry it too.

Karen Lawrence

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

Actually, you can make your own. I've never tried it, so don't know what it's like:

Cut one vanilla bean into several pieces. Place in glass jar with 1/3 tsp. sugar and 3 oz. vodka. Place lid on tightly and let vanilla bean steep for one month. Shake every day.

I did have another recipe for this - when your vanilla was half gone you just added more vodka to the jar and could use the vanilla bean again. I know vanilla beans are expensive, but I'm sure it would be cheaper than pure vanilla.

it's.only.me
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 170 Posts

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

To one liter bottle of vodka, add two whole vanilla beans. Let stand for one month or more, in a dark place. The longer you let the beans soak, the better the flavor. Shake the bottle before using. As you use the vanilla, replenish the bottle by adding more vodka. It's a good idea to keep an extra bottle of vodka for refilling. Don't throw away the beans, keep them in the bottle. As long as you keep the bottle filled, you will never run out of vanilla.

Linda Watters

March 17, 20050 found this helpful

I too make my own vanilla with a bottle of vodka. I have had this new bottle now started since December. Tastes great.

I've been making my own vanilla also! It makes a great gift for friends and family that like to bake, too. Just put it in a neat jar and you're set. I usually make mine with dark rum - the flavor of the vanilla seems more intense and the color is really dark.

Trudy Powell

March 18, 20050 found this helpful

Some information on vanilla...folks need to be careful when purchasing "vanilla" from Mexico. It is considered very inexpensive but the ingredients are not regulated and often contain Coumarin, a chemical found in the Tonka ben which has a sweet smell. Coumarin is a very effective blood thinner (i.e. drug Coumadin), so people taking that drug for medical reasons should not use this vanilla because of the potential for the coumarin to be present. Coumarin is also used in rat poison, cigarettes, and snuff.

I have learned about vanilla because I am an Independent Watkins Associate, and the Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla is one of the company's most famous products (your mother or grandmother may have used it when you were growing up). Anyway, most vanilla people use has a very high alcohol content, thus causing much evaporation when used in baking. Watkins Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla (made with the vanilla beans grown on the island of Madagascar) contains 35% alcohol and is recommended for foods such as mousses, flans, sweeetened whipped cream and frostings, foods that aren't "cooked". The Original Double-Strength Vanilla, however, is formulated to be bake-proof and freeze-proof, with a low alcohol content of 8-1/4% and stabalizers which make it more effective for baking and freezing. Cookies and candies retain the great vanilla flavor when this is used. Thousands of people swear by this vanilla, and if you would like me to send you a catalog, I'll be happy to. Another plus...if you don't like the vanilla, return it for a full refund (Watkins was the first company to ever offer a money-back guarantee back in 1868).

Trudy Powell
trudypowell@sbcglobal.net
www.mo3bk.com

Budi

January 10, 20080 found this helpful

Dear Frugal,

I am Budi from Indonesia and would like to offer you organic high grade vanilla beans. I am a vanilla beans exporter, and I have exported vanilla beans to US since 1977. I pick and sort the best vanilla beans only and cured them by myself from raw vanilla beans to cured vanilla beans.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at nivindo.agro@yahoo.com for further information. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Budi

Budi

January 10, 20080 found this helpful

Dear Frugal,

I am Budi from Indonesia and would like to offer you organic high grade vanilla beans. I am a vanilla beans exporter, and I have exported vanilla beans to US since 1977. I pick and sort the best vanilla beans only and cured them by myself from raw vanilla beans to cured vanilla beans.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at nivindo.agro@yahoo.com for further information. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Budi

Budi

January 10, 20080 found this helpful

Dear Frugal,

I am Budi from Indonesia and would like to offer you organic high grade vanilla beans. I am a vanilla beans exporter, and I have exported vanilla beans to US since 1977. I pick and sort the best vanilla beans only and cured them by myself from raw vanilla beans to cured vanilla beans.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at nivindo.agro@yahoo.com for further information. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Budi

Budi

January 10, 20080 found this helpful

Dear Frugal,

I am Budi from Indonesia and would like to offer you organic high grade vanilla beans. I am a vanilla beans exporter, and I have exported vanilla beans to US since 1977. I pick and sort the best vanilla beans only and cured them by myself from raw vanilla beans to cured vanilla beans.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at nivindo.agro@yahoo.com for further information. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Budi