# Where can I get some good vanilla? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768 "2007-07-22T19:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/1 "2007-07-22T19:18:05Z")
My roommate and I bake a lot\* and while she clearly must be suffering from a massive head injury and thinks that imitation vanilla does the job, I simply cannot lower myself to such frighteningly untasty standards. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been paying out the wazoo for grocery store vanilla that runs me like $5 for one teeny tiny little bottle. I often find myself having to put a bit more than the recipe asks for to reach optimum vanilla-y goodness, thus leaving me with even less uses for my money. My mom used to buy vanilla at the fair in big bottles for a reasonable price and that stuff was vanilla, let me tell you- a teeny tiny bit and you were good to go. Sadly, they don’t sell the vanilla there any more. So where can I order some good, quality vanilla that isn’t horribly expensive, but is also tasty? \*Funny enough, neither of us actually eat the sweet stuff. Needless to say, we have lucky friends- very lucky. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/2 "2007-07-22T19:22:26Z")
[Penzeys.](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvanilla.html) Try the double-strength. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/3 "2007-07-22T19:31:07Z")
[Sweet Celebrations.](http://www.sweetc.com/) Call them up and order a catalog; you’ll be in baking heaven. The Cookie Vanilla and the South Pacific Vanilla are different, and I use both. There are several other vanillas too. Have fun! Note that the online catalog is terrible. Also, you can get powdered vanilla too, which is great for European recipes. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/4 "2007-07-22T19:36:55Z")
Get a bottle of vodka. Grab some vanilla beans from Whole Foods or something, Madagascar ones are nice. Put a slice down the middle of said bean. Put in Vodka and store in a cool dry place for 4 months or so. You’ll have the best vanilla extract you’ve ever tasted and at least a litre of it at that for only a few quid. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/5 "2007-07-22T20:29:38Z")
[http://www.watkinsonline.com/productdetail.cfm?Product=21390&gCatalogLocale=USA](http://www.watkinsonline.com/productdetail.cfm?Product=21390&gCatalogLocale=USA) Best around, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/6 "2007-07-23T01:15:23Z")
Mexico. Seriously, \*\*Dangerosa \*\*and I were there a year or two ago and found natural vanilla on the shelves in large bottles at very reasonable prices. I don’t know that it’s worth the trip just to shop for vanilla, but if you have another reason to go, don’t forget to pick up some vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/7 "2007-07-23T02:04:31Z")
NO! Not Vodka… Use a nice Brandy… WAAAAY Better to make Vanillia Extract… Soak the beans (Roughly one been per cup of brandy) for 3-4 months in a cool dark base… Add 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar per cup AFTER the soak time. Pull out the beans and put them in a small flat container, and cover with white sugar. Let dry. Pour off excess sugar, and finely grind the crystalised “remains”… Typically produces about 2 tablespoons of vanillia sugar per bean… YMMV). This stuff is gold! Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/8 "2007-07-23T04:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] NO! Not Vodka.. Use a nice Brandy… WAAAAY Better to make Vanillia Extract.. Soak the beans (Roughly one been per cup of brandy) for 3-4 months in a cool dark base… Add 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar per cup AFTER the soak time. Pull out the beans and put them in a small flat container, and cover with white sugar. Let dry. Pour off excess sugar, and finely grind the crystalised “remains”… Typically produces about 2 tablespoons of vanillia sugar per bean.. YMMV). This stuff is gold! Regards FML [/QUOTE] **Full Metal Lotus** said everything I was going to say. Meanie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/9 "2007-07-23T04:55:41Z")
[QUOTE=Brainiac4] Mexico. Seriously, \*\*Dangerosa \*\*and I were there a year or two ago and found natural vanilla on the shelves in large bottles at very reasonable prices. I don’t know that it’s worth the trip just to shop for vanilla, but if you have another reason to go, don’t forget to pick up some vanilla. [/QUOTE] Seconded, you can buy 16oz bottles of real vanilla extract for like $10. Great gifts for anyone who bakes alot and IIRC customs could care less unless you buy like $200 worth or something like that. If you know anyone going to mexico ask them to pick you up some, you will only need one of those bottles for a couple years. Maybe 1 per year if you bake alot. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/10 "2007-07-23T13:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=Brainiac4] Mexico. Seriously, \*\*Dangerosa \*\*and I were there a year or two ago and found natural vanilla on the shelves in large bottles at very reasonable prices. I don’t know that it’s worth the trip just to shop for vanilla, but if you have another reason to go, don’t forget to pick up some vanilla. [/QUOTE] [You may want to be careful if you do this.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011207.html) I get mine at Costco. One pint (16 oz.) bottles, but I don’t remember how much I paid, but less than $20 I’m fairly sure. From Cecil’s description, it is probably sythetic as well, but at least it passed through FDA. Although these days, I don’t know what that is worth… Making my own is starting to sound pretty damn good. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/11 "2007-07-23T19:01:53Z")
[The Spice House](http://www.thespicehouse.com) Beans or extract. I need to order some of both. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/12 "2007-07-23T19:12:15Z")
Interesting note…I also bake a lot, and have always sworn by real vanilla. Recently, though, I saw a comparison they did in Cook’s Illustrated magazine that said that people really can’t tell the difference in the final product. I trust them implicitly, so now I’m less fussy about it. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/13 "2007-07-23T19:13:22Z")
But is there a big difference between the $2 giant bottle of fake vanilla at the grocery store and perhaps. . . nicer fake vanilla? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/14 "2007-07-23T19:47:42Z")
About the Mexican vanilla extract . . . is it **better** than grocery store vanilla, or just **cheaper**? My mom brings some back every year, including some for an aunt who bakes a lot and clamors for it. Just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/15 "2007-07-23T20:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha] Get a bottle of vodka. Grab some vanilla beans from Whole Foods or something, Madagascar ones are nice. Put a slice down the middle of said bean. Put in Vodka and store in a cool dry place for 4 months or so. You’ll have the best vanilla extract you’ve ever tasted and at least a litre of it at that for only a few quid. [/QUOTE] I was going to post this very same thing. The cheaper the vodka the better. I use 2 beans split lengthwise per pint. It gets better and better and better as it ages. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/16 "2007-07-24T01:01:39Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] About the Mexican vanilla extract . . . is it **better** than grocery store vanilla, or just **cheaper**? My mom brings some back every year, including some for an aunt who bakes a lot and clamors for it. Just wondering. [/QUOTE] Waaaaay better IMO, and until I got hooked on the Mexican stuff I’d always used the real thing (and once did the vodka/Madagascar vanilla bean thing). I have most of a liter bottle of vanilla left from a trip to Mexico several years ago, and it provides an aroma that’s like absolutely nothing else. In the unlikely event that I run out before I can snag a new bottle, I’d probably try the Costco stuff. Alternately, do you have a local Mexican grocery store or two? My local produce stand carries Mexican vanilla - it’s not nearly as cheap as it was in Mexico, but still a ton cheaper than supermarket vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-some-good-vanilla/412768/17 "2007-07-24T01:11:39Z")
[QUOTE=Brainiac4] Mexico. Seriously, \*\*Dangerosa \*\*and I were there a year or two ago and found natural vanilla on the shelves in large bottles at very reasonable prices. [/QUOTE] Not there, but wasn’t there a terrible story a few years ago about inexpensive vanilla that wasn’t quite as advertised out of \_\_\_\_\_o, but maybe my synapses have atrophied. You gets what youse pays for.