
They are ideal for infusing because they have less moisture and a more concentrated vanilla flavor.

Often times the pods will split, but this doesn’t affect their flavor. Grade B beans are left on the vine to ripen fully. Grade B vanilla beans are what you want for making vanilla extract. Grade A vanilla beans are better for cooking, and are often used to make homemade vanilla ice cream, vanilla pudding, and crème brûlée. Grade A is more expensive, gourmet type pods that are large, plump, and contains more moisture than Grade B. In addition, dried vanilla beans are also graded into two categories: Grade A and grade B. Tahitian Vanilla Beans: Tahitian vanilla pods are farmed on Tahiti, a French Polynesian island also called “Vanilla Island.” The flavor of Tahitian vanilla can be described as a delicate blend of floral, fruity, and chocolate notes.Mexican vanilla beans can be described as mellow, smooth, with a hint of smoky spice depth. Most Mexican vanilla beans are cultivated along the Gulf Coast in the Veracruz state, where the climate and soil are ideal for growing the vanilla orchid. Mexico is considered the birthplace of the vanilla bean and the only place where vanilla can be grown using natural pollination. Mexican Vanilla Beans: Probably the second more popular variety that you will find is the Mexican vanilla pod.Madagascar vanilla beans have a rich vanilla flavor that can be described as sweet, earthy, with undertones of floral and oak. It is farmed in the Sava region located in the northwest corner of Madagascar, where the humidity, rainfall, and fertile soil create the optimal growing conditions for the vanilla orchid. Madagascar Vanilla Beans: This is one of the most popular varieties that you will encounter.Three common types of vanilla beans you may encounter include: Each type will work wonderfully as vanilla extract, and each variety has a slightly different flavor. Your grocery store is likely to have one or two types of vanilla beans to choose from, but you will be offered more variety when you shop online.ĭon’t be intimidated by the overwhelming choice of vanilla beans on the market. The ripe pods are harvested and cured for several months until they develop their distinctive flavor and aroma. Vanilla beans are the fruit from a climbing orchid that thrives in moist, tropical climates with consistent rainfall. However, if you want to explore brewing a better batch, here are tips to help you make a unique and superior vanilla extract: Type of Vanilla Beans for Infusing You will get delicious results if you just grab a few vanilla beans and an inexpensive bottle of vodka from the grocery store. Homemade vanilla extract is simple to make by submerging pure vanilla beans into alcohol, and letting the vanilla flavor infuse into the liquid. Not only is it delicious in baked goods, but it can be bottled it up in cute glass containers and given as gifts. Once I gave homemade vanilla extract a try, I found it so superior to store bought that I have been making it ever since. Then it dawned on me…I looked back and forth between the real vanilla extract and the vanilla beans and realized that I could extract that vanilla goodness myself with some type of alcohol. But pure vanilla extract is pricey, and for someone who bakes as much as I do, it’s enough to put me in the poorhouse. I know that imitation vanilla is really just a bunch of gross chemicals, including artificial flavors, caramel coloring, and corn syrup manufactured to taste like actual vanilla. A shopping trip to the grocery store a few years back to pick up some baking supplies for the holidays got me to thinking…
