pure kona > wrote in
:


>
> If it matters- As a farmer who sells a product, I would suggest that
> the cheapest vanilla bean may not be the best. Consider the age of
> the vanilla pod, because some very old ones may have far less existing
> vanillin (or whatever its called). Or maybe were not stored well,etc.
> There is a reason for the difference of price, imho.
>
> It is just difficult to produce vanilla except in far away countries
> where farming practices are not covered by the USDA.
>


I would have thought (on the age thing) that because the bean has been
'cured' and dried, it'd be viable for many years.

I have read that the only thing that will affect a dried bean is mold, if
you live in the sub-tropics etc.

I also read that even if your bean dries out more, it's still viable as
all you have to do is soak it in liquid (milk or vodka spring to mind) to
plump them up again.

I bought 250g of beans off eBay quite some time back, and the beans I have
remaining are still quite pungent and have no signs of deterioration. I
have them stored in the original plastic packaging, in my pantry.

I have also sent several lots of beans over to various people in the
States...... as well as some of the homemade vanilla/vodka extract I made.

The beans I bought were Madagascan, and for the amount, were quite cheap.

I just wouldn't buy any *extract* from Mexico, or Haiti.

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.