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Farm Kitchen:  Homemade Vanilla Extract and Organic Vanilla Beans  |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
 Posted - May 23 2008 : 7:04:57 PM
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I recently bought a good quantity of organic bourbon vanilla beans. I am wanting to make extract, has anyone done this before? What were your results, etc. What is your favorite thing to do with vanilla beans?
I recently read on another vanilla bean website, that there is no such thing as US standard certified organic vanilla beans grown outside of the US, due to differences in government standards and regulations. This site stated that all vanilla beans ae grown w/out pesticides due to lack of funds for chemicals of farmers, and lack of infrastructure/roads in the countries where the vanilla is grown.
If anyone has any insight into these vanilla topics, it would be greatly appreciated.
Trish
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war!
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 02:24:10 AM
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Yep..and making extract is the easiest thing in the world!
Go to the red dot store, (Liquor store) and by a bottle of the best, highest level of alcohol you can get..and I don't mean 'best' as in the most expensive, I mean the one with the 'highest' alcohol content (PROOF). I used Smirnoff blue/silver label.
Bring it home, pop the top, pour you a shot then toss in two vanilla beans. Let it sit on the counter, or in a cabinet. When you see it turn a light to medium amber gold, it's ready! Usually takes a few months. If you want to make it stronger, open up the vanilla bean pod, and scrape the insides into the vodka, then put the shell in. With that you can easily get by with one vanilla bean.
It takes a long time to use up that much vanilla, but it's worth it and it doesnt go bad!
OHHPS: Drink the shot!! LOL I'm just kidding
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
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Edited by - Sagewood on May 24 2008 02:25:18 AM |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 11:07:35 AM
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Vanilla is the only one I've acccomplished so far. From what I understand, most all of the other flavors are done with complicated extraction equipment, but if you find something out, let us know..I know I'd LOVE to try different ones.
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 12:11:03 PM
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When my mother and daughter went to the Bahamas, I requested Vanilla Beans and that's what I got! Nice fresh plump ones. The growers suggested using a quality rum for making vanilla extract, so that's what I used. Adds another flavor along with the Vanilla to my baking. They also brought me a jar of vanilla paste..the beans were ground and it's great in items where the teeny tiny vanilla seeds inside the bean are not a problem. When I finally use up the bottle of rum/vanilla, I'll add the "used" beans to my sugar canister and they'll flavor it too. Amazing how much flavor a vanilla bean can add and for so long. The price has come back down from the astronomical prices for a couple of years.
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 12:24:53 PM
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What great timing for this thread! Thanks for posting the info; I just got some beans a couple days ago with the intent of making vanilla and your instructions are great, Sage! Thanks! Now, to figure out how to get vanilla to *grow* in my garden!! ;)
Funny Farm ramblings http://happydalehobby.blogspot.com/ |
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 12:50:47 PM
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Oh Molly! Growing vanilla..I never even considered it!! Where would you buy the 'seeds' from?? That would be FANTASTIC!!
And yeah..Ronna I've heard of using rum too, and I've got several beans set aside to try it with Rum next!!
I love the homemade version of the vanilla..it's SOOOO much better!
(Wonder if I can take a shot of the rum too!)
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 1:29:04 PM
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They grow vanilla at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, in the orchid house. Oh my, you should smell it in there! Yum. I have always wanted to try making my own vanilla extract. If it's as easy as it sounds, I may just give it a whirl!
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 1:38:38 PM
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Rum isn't as harsh tasting as vodka to me, so...Yes, take a shot of rum to "make room in the bottle" for the vanilla beans. Any excuse is better than none at all :)
The used beans will flavor your sugar for years, even when they look like a twig that got into the sugar by mistake. My family finally realized it was okay to have tiny specks and flakes in the sugar.
Enjoy! |
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palmettogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
571 Posts
sue
camden
south carolina
USA
571 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 1:46:42 PM
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| this is really interesting....i use vanilla all the time and it would be fun to actually make my own. love the idea of using rum for a little different taste. but, would you use it in place of the "regular rum" for anything/everything?? or let me ask you this way, is there anything in particular that you wouldn't use it in because the taste would be a little "off"?? |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 2:27:54 PM
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We have a daughter living in Mexico. This past month when she was hear she brought 3-1000ml bottles. So yummy & better than anything we can get in the US.
But I have some vanilla beans too. Should I add them to the bottle of vanilla for double strength?
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many, MRET & Wellness Coach
Farmgirl Sister #97
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 2:29:31 PM
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I don't know about the rum, since I haven't made it with rum yet, I do know the vodka does NOT give it a different flavor. Once the vanilla really takes over, and once it's used in something, the vodka taste is not there.
I can imagine that the rum would be a good added flavor though..I could think of MANY things that would be really good with vanilla rum! (even a mixed drink or two!)
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2008 : 08:33:04 AM
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I have been doing some research. It has to be a certain strenght to sell or be called vanilla extract, rather than vanilla flavored liquor. It is six vanilla beans per eight ounces. It must be for smaller/grade B beans, which are actually better for making extract than the juicy grade A's. Apparently with that strength you can make everlasting vanilla, where you add more vodka after each use, and you can keep it going. Careful with the mexican vanilla, I read there are some nasty additives. Is it amber colored, dark and murky, or clear? Clear is pure, synthetic vanillin. It's often called "crystal vanilla." Dark and murky is synthetic vanillin, most likely ethyl vanillin derived from coal tar. It may also be dark because it contains red dye that we've banned in the U.S. or it may contain caramel coloring. If it's truly amber-colored it may be natural vanilla.
Trish
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war!
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Farm Kitchen: Homemade Vanilla Extract and Organic Vanilla Beans |
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Homemade Vanilla Extract and Organic Vanilla Beans
