647670 Wed Aug 26 11:10:56 -0700 2009 15 12 Boston Area 0 4979751 Anyone know of a local source? Wed Aug 26 11:10:56 -0700 2009 110819 bakerboyz 1 4980062 TJ's, Whole Paycheck and Wiliams Sonoma. Wed Aug 26 12:23:18 -0700 2009 4979751 147961 treb 1 4980105 Arax in Watertown recently had em for 5-6 for $5 and they were fresh and excellent. Wed Aug 26 12:35:27 -0700 2009 4979751 10169 StriperGuy 2 4982606 Ooohhh good to know! I need them for a beer I am making. While I think of it, Penzey's Spice in Arlington (corner of Park Ave and Mass Ave.) might have them, too. And definetly give Formaggio Kitchen on Huron Ave in Cambridge a call too. Thu Aug 27 09:03:57 -0700 2009 4980105 222400 Stellar D 3 4983337 According to their website, Penzey's has Mexican and Madagascan vanilla beans, but not Tahitian. Thu Aug 27 12:22:36 -0700 2009 4982606 18512 Allstonian 1 4982610 Order them online. Much, much cheaper. Thu Aug 27 09:04:39 -0700 2009 4979751 223804 Reignking 1 4983482 Thanks all. Checked TJs: no luck; Whole Foods had Indonesian Vanilla Beans for $12.99; went to Arax in Watertown and found Tahitian for only $4.99. Thu Aug 27 13:07:27 -0700 2009 4979751 110819 bakerboyz 2 4983629 Natch. Thu Aug 27 13:52:00 -0700 2009 4983482 10169 StriperGuy 1 4985257 It's not a local source, but I found this company on eBay (no association w/them, btw) and was really pleased with my order (one - enough to last me awhile). I got a combo order of both bourbon and tahitian beans: http://www.organic-vanilla.com/ I absolutely love vanilla. I've used a bit of one of the beans (forgot which) already, and am waiting for my homemade extract to be ready. Fri Aug 28 06:58:58 -0700 2009 4979751 23383 threedogs 2 4985330 If you don't mind revealing your recipe, how do you make vanilla extract? What type of alcohol do you use? Is the homemade extract better than store bought? Fri Aug 28 07:27:19 -0700 2009 4985257 1102492 amy_wong 3 4985343 I just made some myself: 6 oz jar of cruzan dark rum (some folks use whisky, you could even use vodka. Just don't want anything too strong tasting i.e. single malt scotch or say Meyers rum.) 3 tahitian vanilla beans Split beans down middle. Scoop out goo. Add goo and empty beans to rum. Shake well. Let sit for 3 weeks. It's cool as it gets darker and darker as the vanilla diffuses out into the rum. Fri Aug 28 07:31:00 -0700 2009 4985330 10169 StriperGuy 4 4985452 Nice. I'll try this since the good quality store bought extract is pretty expensive. I may try with Everclear since I'll be attempting to make limoncello as well. On the other hand, I'm not even sure Everclear is available here in MA. Fri Aug 28 08:02:52 -0700 2009 4985343 1102492 amy_wong 5 4985472 Can't get Everclear here. CT for sure. NH used to sell it, but think they made it harder to get in the state owned stores. The vanilla extract was so fragrant and vanilla perfumed, way better than the best vanilla extract I have ever found in a bottle. Fri Aug 28 08:09:32 -0700 2009 4985452 10169 StriperGuy 6 4985524 Thanks for the information. I'll try making the vanilla extract with Cruzan rum and postpone the limoncello. I want the highest alcohol content (i.e., 190 proof) for the latter. Fri Aug 28 08:22:04 -0700 2009 4985472 1102492 amy_wong 4 4988647 That's basically how I make mine. Hadn't made any for ages - this time I split the beans length wise and then into about thirds so the alcohol (I used rum this time, too - before I've used brandy) would cover the pieces entirely. Started w/a full bottle of Dominican Rum (cheapest I could find), dark. Used some for biscotti, some for a tweaked version of a sort of fruit tiramisu I make (this was for my kind landlord - I'm not above bribery!! ;-) So I ended up with about a quarter of the bottle (guess it's a liter bottle, or close to that). I used (I think) about 5 or 6 vanilla beans, and when I get a chance, I'll get some more rum and add to it. The longer it sits, the better the extract turns out. I really need a full bottle, because it ends up tasting better than anything I could buy in the stores... makes a very, very tasty drink, too. Believe me - this doesn't last... Sat Aug 29 12:07:20 -0700 2009 4985343 23383 threedogs 5 4989051 Sounds good enough to drink on its own. I think rum is the way to go, seems to go with the flavor of vanilla well. I love bourbon too, but I think it may taste too strong and overwhelm the vanilla easily. Sat Aug 29 15:27:47 -0700 2009 4988647 1102492 amy_wong