# Time to stock up on vanilla **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355 "2003-10-14T12:15:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/1 "2003-10-14T12:15:06Z")
According to my mother, who talked with someone who works for (I think) McCormick’s - the price of vanilla in the US is about to go thru the roof. She claims that most of the beans used come from Madagascar and they’ve had some really bad years. I found [this article](http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0811/p13s02-wmcn.html) which seems to confirm what she heard. So Mom’s going to get me a big bottle when she gets hers. Also according to the friend, vanilla doesn’t go bad - it just gets better as it ages. Anyway, take it for what it’s worth. If you use a lot of vanilla, you might want to think about laying in a supply. Should the price go up, you’ll be ready. And if not, you won’t have to buy any for a while. Plus you can ridicule me. That’s all. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/2 "2003-10-14T12:19:45Z")
I’m ahead. I got six bottles of vanilla. The real stuff. It was on sale and yes I do use it. Maybe I should buy a case or two and start a black market vanilla scam. Or corner the market on vanilla in south Georgia. I shall be the vanilla king! **BWAHAAHAAHAAHAA** Or maybe I’ve had enough caffiene for today. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/3 "2003-10-14T12:38:25Z")
Thanks for the tip, **FCM**. I always have to add just a little extra when I’m using it. Cakes, french toast, whipped cream, whatever. Gotta go score me some extra vanilly. pssst… **swampbear** , over here in the alley. Yah, ummmm…I got this cake, see…and I’m needing a certain _special_ ingredient…ya know? Soooooo, how much ya askin for a bottle of the _good_ stuff? I don’t want anything cut, ya understand. I want it straight. And pure. Just like a virgin. That’s right. A vanilla virgin… ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/4 "2003-10-14T12:45:45Z")
Psh. Is there really such a thing as too much vanilla inthe house? How can you make chocolate ship cookies on short notice unless you’re sure you’ve go the vanilla? I guess I’ll have to get antoher few bottles though… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/5 "2003-10-14T13:03:13Z")
I’ve currently got one big bottle and two small. I’m not sure how that happened – but all of a sudden, I’m feeling prescient, instead of foolish. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/6 "2003-10-14T13:50:06Z")
Just last month, my mom gave me 4 1-ounce bottles that she got in a bulk package. Now she’s going to get me a pint bottle. I should be set for a while. Of course, since I’m low-carbing, I don’t know what I’m going to do with all of it. I can’t remember the last time I baked… ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/7 "2003-10-14T14:29:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Cakes, french toast, whipped cream, whatever. Don’t forget the pancakes, bread pudding. I like to make my own vanilla extract by splitting a bean or two and putting them in a small bottle with a liqueur. Right now I have one with Amaretto and one with Frangelico. The Frangelico one is superb when making Biscotti. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/8 "2003-10-14T15:01:38Z")
I try to stock up on **vanilla** but she keeps getting out of the damn cabinets. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/9 "2003-10-14T15:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\* > > Also according to the friend, vanilla doesn’t go bad - it just gets better as it ages. > > \*\* 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/10 "2003-10-14T15:08:48Z")
My God, it’s already so expensive. I bought a 2 ounce bottle of McCormick’s yesterday. $3.99. (Which was a better deal than the 1 ounce for $2.99.) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/11 "2003-10-14T15:09:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*\ splitting a bean or two and putting them in a small bottle with a liqueur. Right now I have one with Amaretto and one with Frangelico. \*\* What’s a small bottle - about how many ounces per bean? How long does it have to sit before it’s ready for use? Huh? Who, me? Drooling?? :o ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/12 "2003-10-14T15:32:46Z")
Recipes: Brandy [http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/ubbs/archive/MIXES/Vanilla\_Homemade\_Vanilla\_Extract.html](http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/ubbs/archive/MIXES/Vanilla_Homemade_Vanilla_Extract.html) Vodka [http://recipestoday.com/recipes/misc/vanillaextract.htm](http://recipestoday.com/recipes/misc/vanillaextract.htm) Brandy or Pure Grain Alcohol [http://www.blackpearlbotanicals.com/articles/vanextract.htm](http://www.blackpearlbotanicals.com/articles/vanextract.htm) Brandy and Vodka [http://ndnd.essortment.com/vanillahomemade\_rbkv.htm](http://ndnd.essortment.com/vanillahomemade_rbkv.htm) Several: [http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,how+to+make+vanilla+extract,FF.html](http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,how+to+make+vanilla+extract,FF.html) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/13 "2003-10-14T15:44:50Z")
Maybe this will spell the end for the vile beast that is Vanilla Coke[sup]TM[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/14 "2003-10-14T16:09:43Z")
I just read an article in Cooks Illustrated that claimed artificial vanilla was just as good (even better) as the real stuff in taste tests. It has to do with real vanilla requiring so much alcohol to adhere to US standards as opposed to the fake stuff (vanillin). So I’m not worried about the vanilla shortage. Mind you, where the hell does vanillin come from? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/15 "2003-10-14T16:29:33Z")
I accidentally bought some artificial vanilla. I didn’t realize my mistake till after I used it and tasted the final product. I didn’t think it was as good as real vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/16 "2003-10-14T17:47:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally Posted by FairyChatMom:_ > Huh? Who, me? Drooling?? If anyone on this message board does any drooling on or over **Homebrew** it will be me. 😃 And I agree about the fake vanilla. (Baptist Vanilla it’s called around here) It ain’t got nothin’ on the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![dannyv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ab097/32.png) [@dannyv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dannyv)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/17 "2003-10-14T18:37:16Z")
sugar??? water?? how 'bout just a vanilla bean in a 12 oz or so container of brandy. or other favorite liquor. yum. the great thing about extracting your own vanilla is that the beans are so powerful. when i run out, i usually just put some more brandy in the bottle and we’re off to the races again. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/18 "2003-10-14T19:39:19Z")
😃 My **swampy** _hasn’t_ forgotten me! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/19 "2003-10-14T20:51:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > Maybe this will spell the end for the vile beast that is Vanilla Coke[sup]TM[/sup] According to legend, the original introduction of “New Coke” was to avoid the use of more expensive Madagascar vanilla beans. We all know how that story ended. Thank you, **FCM** , for this advisory. Vanilla is one of my favorite flavoring agents. It is the secret to a good home made chocolate pudding and many other favorite dessert recipes of mine. It is also extremely difficult to add too much vanilla to a given recipe when it’s called for. I shall have to stock up on this marvelous orchid pod extract. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355/20 "2003-10-14T21:39:40Z")
**ouisey** - the Cook’s Illustrated article explains where vanillin comes from. I think it’s from tree pulp or something, can’t remember off the top of my head. And **FCM** - I think the article said that it depends on what you’re cooking, whether real or artificial vanilla tastes better. IIRC, tasters preferred artificial vanilla in baked goods, because it tasted more like vanilla and less like alcohol. In lightly-cooked things, though, like custard, the real vanilla was the winner by far. And, after they wrote the article, they tested vanilla powder and vanilla paste, and compared them with vanilla beans. Vanilla beans were the best, of course, but vanilla powder was surprisingly good – possibly better than real vanilla extract. I could be mis-remembering some of this information, though. I’ll have to go home and check. If anyone else has the current issue handy, feel free to correct me! 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-stock-up-on-vanilla/207355.md?page=2)