Vanilla Beans [moved from Home Cooking]

[phee]

Has anyone detected a noticeable difference between vanilla beans from, say, Madagascar vs. Tahiti vs. Mexico? Would you recommend one over the other?

[ipsedixit]

Here's a quick rundown of all the vanilla bean varieties.

http://www.vanillagarlic.com/2007/06/...

[phee]

AWESOME link! Thank you so much!

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Tahitian vanilla beans are more delicate and floral. They have an amazing scent and I really like the flavour, but find I have to add more than I would when using Madagascar beans.

As far as I know, Madagascar and Mexican beans are the same variety of vanilla, but taste somewhat different due to the climate/soil/growing conditions. I've never bought Mexican beans, though, so I can't say what those differences are or how noticeable they are.

[phee]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed to know. Madagascar it is!