My wife and I love vanilla. We didn't understand how incredible vanilla can be until we visited Mexico for the first time and tasted their pure and traditional vanillas. Since then we've been hooked on really good vanilla. We have inexpensive source for "traditional" vanilla, a type of vanilla that is made from the vanillan crystals that form when vanilla beans are fermented then dried in the sun. (Yes, there is an "n" on the end of the word). It has a very low alcohol content and can be used without baking off the alcohol. We use it in drinks, on ice cream, sweet rice, etc. We can get it locally for $7 per liter.
While researching vanilla extracts recently I learned how easy it is to make pure vanilla extract. I bought 1/4 lb of dried Madagascar vanilla beans from Amazon ($20) and a 750 ml bottle of decent quality but inexpensive 80 proof vodka ($10) from Total Wine and More. I chopped the beans into 1/2 inch pieces, poured about 2 ounces out of the bottle, then I put the chopped vanilla beans right in the bottle. I shook it up and took the first picture below.
The process involves shaking the bottle once daily and keeping it in a cabinet. The pure vanilla extract will be ready in a month to use in baking. Proponents say by 3 months you have an unbelievably complex and nectar-of-the-gods vanilla extract.
This morning was the 7th day of shaking. I opened the bottle to smell what I had and OMG it was the most amazing smelling vanilla! I can hardly wait three more weeks to try it in baking, probably something simple first like a sugar cookie where the vanilla can really shine.
The second picture is what it looked like after 7 days. I'll keep posting this as I take pictures and eventually use the vanilla.
Have a GREAT day!
Ray
Morning,
Not sure how I fell into this thread but I LOVE Vanilla as well. I'll take plain vanilla ice cream for example over ANYTHING else... a good one that is...
So I would like to make my own Vanilla extract. Must I use 1/4 lb of Vanilla Bean in a 750ML bottle of 70-80 proof vodka? I read to use just the plain clear vodka which I would but I'm just unsure how many beans is correct... Here is a link of a 10pk on Amazon. Is this correct? Am I on the right track?
Thank you in advance......
exromenyer
10 beans in a 750 ml bottle of vodka would be a very light extract, even below standard minimums (See below). You could your your 10 beans with 16 oz of vodka to get a minimum requirement for vanilla extract.
Note: A "fold" is the USDA minimum requirement of 13.35 oz of vanilla beans per gallon of extract. Here is the calculations for my folds based up 24 oz of vodka per 750 ML bottle (you have to pour some if the vodka off into a Black Russian cocktail to make room for the beans).
Single Fold: 15.625 beans per 24 ounces. 1 lb of beans = 6 bottles plus 9 oz
1.28 Fold: 20 beans per 24 ounces. 1 lb of beans = 5 bottles.
1.6 Fold: 25 beans per 24 ounces. 1 lb of beans = 4 bottles.
There is absolutely nothing better than homemade vanilla. The beans from Amazon are good. I used them to make my initial batch. The beans I used on my second batch were from Saffron Imports out of San Francisco and the results were WAY better. 1/8 lb of Tahitian vanilla beans from Saffron Imports is the same price as above, but you pay for shipping. Either way, you'll be happy.
Ray,
Thank you so much for breaking it down. It might have been awhile and you might not recall but do you remember how many beans cam in the 1/8 and 1/4 lb bundle from saffron.com? If not, all good....I would like to get just enough to do a 750ml bottle to start and then give my parents some once it melds for awhile.....
Thanks, Tony