What kind of pure vanilla extract do you like? - Page 2

LOL How funny are you!! I never dreamed they were possibly available over here, so never looked! You can only find vanilla flavored sugar or 'aroma' here...never seen real vanilla ever.

Cool - I'll give them a call tomorrow! Thanks!!

yes, definately. I too. use 90 proof vodka and vanilla beans. all you do is split the beans open and insert in the bottle of vodka and let marinate for about a month or two. saves money too!

I make my own too! Vodka for most recipes but I made some with bourbon and use that with the chocolate and caramel recipes.

I'll second that. https://www.surfasonline.com/products/6740.cfm A 32-oz bottle of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla is only $24 plus shipping. With shipping it still works out to less then a dollar an ounce!

By the way this is the same stuff they sell at Williams Sonoma for only 8oz for $19 Yes you heard me, 1/4 of the quantity for almost the same $$.

Buy it at Surfas, it's cheaper than supermarket vanilla!!

Some one told me there is a good one at Trader Joes...??

I used to use TJ's before I discovered the NM at Surfa's. I think TJ's was...$4 for 4oz?? I don't know if I am remembering that correctly. I know it was roughly the same price as NM but not nearly as good. The ironic thing was figuring out when to use up my TJ's vanilla, as technically it wasn't as good but I felt it was almost more "special" since it actually cost more LOL.

(Of course if you are in Los Angeles the NM vanilla is ridiculously cheap since you don't pay shipping...comes to 80cents an ounce with tax included.)

I am in Los Angeles County... up north in the burbs. Do you mean to go to surfas for the NM? Thanks...

CESHELL... Just realized we have talked before. We were going to try to get together at Portos but I don't think it worked out for you.... We'll have to try again. I am closer to Valencia.... Pat

WOW, that is a great deal... I just ordered some...... thanks y'all

WOW, that is a great deal... I just ordered some...... thanks y'all

But if Costco's is 100% pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla then why NM? Just wondering...

I do mean Surfas for the NM vanilla but in your case it would cost you more in gas than it would cost to pay them shipping.

But if you plan to be in the area (Culver City) it's soooo...worth stopping in...It's a chef's heaven (and I'm not even a chef). Although it is not a cake decorating supply shop, they have a lot of supplies and a lot of food-related items eg. bulk chocolates, flavoring extracts and oils, etc. Then there's the cake pans, cutters, and all sorts of random stuff I can't even begin to list. That still leaves the rest of the store and its restaurant supplies, including the food section: jams and jellies and oils and vinegars and gourmet pantry products, frozen section, I go there from time to time just to window shop and dream! >>sorry everyone else, a little OT here<<<

(ps I don't think that was me but there is at least one other LA CCer with a similar name to mine )

Jopalis: I have not tried the Costco vanilla, I would be interested to know how it stacks up against the NM but I would be surprised if it is as good. As with every type of product, quality differs from manufacturer to manufacturer and oftentimes you really do get what you pay for. According to the NM website (Ok I realize this is a marketing blurb) "Q: Does all vanilla taste the same? A: No, taste depends on a number of factors. The country of origin of the vanilla beans, maturity of the beans when picked, curing method used of the beans and the extraction method used to produce the extract all will influence the final flavor profile."

you're right... it was cshelz...

I want to go there..... Might be worth the trip for the fun factor too....

thanks...

OH...btw.... do you need a vendors license to shop there? Thx...

I am sorry to break this to you, but that is just marketing BS. All pure vanilla extract must be 35% alcohol. That is it's legal definition. Vanilla has many flavor compunds that are only transportable to your tasting mechanisms ( tongue and nasal cavaties) in alcohol, so vanilla extract with less alcohol would 1, not be vanilla extract, and two would taste less like vanilla.

Clear Vanilla is not vanilla at all, it is wood chips steeped in alcohol.

And for an answer to the original question. I have my own Vanilla blend. It has Madagascar, Tahitian and Mexican Beans in it. It's so good it makes the angels weep...and I get it for a song.

OK txcat..... spill your vanilla beans... Where do you get that song? LOL! thanks for the education. Although now I feel bad using clear vanilla... yuckkkkkk....

There is a company in New Jersey that blends it for me, as well as a pure cocoa extract ( excellent for getting blood red red velvet cake) I only pay about $54 a gallon for a 100% pure extract 2X vanilla, but I buy 12 gallons at a time.