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Good source for vanilla beans?

14 years ago

I've done some checking around. On Amazon, JR Mushrooms & Specialties sells 16 bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans for $14.50, free shipping, with very good feedback overall. Several reviewers say that it's actually from Olivenation. Is this a reliable company or is there another that's "better"? There are so many that one can order beans from. And is Madagascar pretty much to go-to type of beans to use - not looking for Rolls Royce type of beans, but good, reliable ones.

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Comments (6)

foodonastump
14 years ago
You must have been on vacation last week ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: vanilla sources
arlinek
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks; haven't been here in almost a month, sadly not due to a vacation. Just found the link up above, since I added a comment. Thanks so much. Doing a search only gave me recipes with a vanilla bean in it.
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arlinek
Original Author
14 years ago
OMG, Saradooky on eBay has several varieties of Madagascar vanilla beans ... which are "supposed" to be best? There's Royal, Black, Organic, Grade A, Extract - goodness, how does one know?
coconut_nj
14 years ago
Just so happens that in today's mail I got my Organic Madagascar beans from Saradooky. They look and smell great. I plan to make vanilla extract with some of them for holiday use so I opted for the organic. Who knows if they're really organic but I thought it would be a good choice. Nice beans.
loves2cook4six
14 years ago
What are you planning to do with them.
arlinek
Original Author
14 years ago
I use them for pastry cremes, custards, creme brulee mainly. Maybe I'd even try my own liq. extract down the line - have a lot of store stuff (ext.) right now.

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