ISO: Cheap vanilla beans

[dmcgreevey]

Does anyone know of a source for vanilla beans? I went to Williams Sonoma and it was $8 for two!! I'm willing to buy mail order/online or local in the Atlanta area.

Thanks!

[Jessica]

I buy mine in bulk at Whole Foods--I think you have those stores in Atlanta. I pay about $3 per bean, which is the price I have seen at most spice shops. You pay by weight, so you can try to find smaller beans in the jar :)

[Ralph]

Whole Foods is a great suggestion!

For mail order, try Penzey's (www.penzeys.com) or Spice House (www.thespicehouse.com). I don't recall their prices, but I know they have them available.

[Kerri]

I have also found them at the regular grocery store (Tom Thumb - the same one that didn't have polenta when I needed it) for about $2-3.

[Melman]

I posted the following information last October.....hopefully, all the information is still valid. This is the company where I always buy my vanilla beans. They're EXCELLENT!!!

* * * * * * * * *
They can be purchased from Just Herbs. Toll-free number is 888-59HERBS (888-594-3727). They also have email: justherbs@yahoo.com. The owner told me they're working on a web site but it's not up-and-running quite yet.

The beans cost $2.50 each. She said shipping would probably be in the range of $2. She also said they can sell the beans by weight if anyone is thinking about making LOTS of vanilla. She sells 1/4 pound and 1/2 pound of beans at roughly $100 a pound. There are about 90 beans in a pound. (Hmmmm...around 20-22 beans for $25?? Not a bad deal if you're making lots of gifts.)

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Melman
They can be purchased from Just Herbs. Toll-free number is 888-59HERBS (888-594-3727). They also have email: justherbs@yahoo.com.

AHA! Thanks, Melman. I knew there had been a previous discussion about this; I just couldn't find it! And I knew someone had mentioned another source, too.

[Jessica]

The JustHerbs deal sounds like a good one. Does anyone know how long you can store vanilla beans? I like the idea of getting 22 for $25, but not if they will go bad before I use them.

[Melman]

Not long!! I've learned that when I order them, I have to plop them in the alcohol almost immediately. I've accidentally had them dry up (lost in the dark recesses of my kitchen cabinet!!!), and I hate that to happen!!! When you can bend them and hear the *crack*, that's not good!! Unless someone is planning massive vanilla-making (for gifts???), even though it's a good deal, it's probably a potential waste of perfectly good vanilla beans. I'm too chicken to buy a quantity like that.

To answer your specific question though, I really don't think I could guess an actual length of time. Maybe a few weeks?? I had mine in the ziplog bag they came in. They were airtight, in a dark space, and still dried up. I wonder how they keep them fresh at Just Herbs. If someone calls them, maybe you could ask and post their response????

[MaryH]

They are also available at Cost Plus. Two Madagascar vanilla beans to a jar. Can't remember exactly how much but I want to say around $3. (Was also mentioned in the previous thread.)

[Julia1Pin]

I bought two at Trader Joes for about $3.

[Tina_B]

I just ordered a tube of 2 vanilla beans for $4.00 Canadian . This is about $2.50 US. The other option is to order 24 for $30 CAN. This would definately be less that $20 US. A pretty good deal and I bet shipping would be reasonable. The web address is www.gallowaysfoods.com.

[Jewel]

I get my Madagascar Vanilla Beans through Penzey's, and I paid $3.50 for two big 'ol long ones that were SO fresh and easy to work with! The ones I get at the grocery store are hard as rocks and not very pliable. The Penzey's beans were wonderful! I vac-packed the remaining beans with my FoodSaver and I'll have them fresh for a long time!

[dmcgreevey]

Thanks, everyone, for your quick responses! I am planning to make vanilla bean ice cream for our supper club this weekend.

[mariakj]

How quickly do the vanilla beans in the jar dry up? I had no idea that they would dry up if they were in the jar. I bought some from Penzeys a month ago and was saving them to make creme brule'. I hope they don't go bad that quickly.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by mariakj
How quickly do the vanilla beans in the jar dry up? I had no idea that they would dry up if they were in the jar. I bought some from Penzeys a month ago and was saving them to make creme brule'. I hope they don't go bad that quickly.

I don't think they 'go bad' as much as they just get a bit stiff. The seeds inside are protected by the pod shell, but the tougher that pod is, the harder it is to work with. I've got a little bitty slender vanilla bean that I've got a really sharp knife poised above trying to split it lengthwise so I can scrape out those seeds! The more pliable the pod, the easier and safer (for me!) it is to split and scrape. I've been really impressed with Penzey's Madagascar beans so far!

[Svadhisthana]

Penzeys!!!! They have Vanilla beans and they also sell double strength vanilla extract. You can find them online or order via the cataloge. :)

[Beth]

Okay, so before the next meeting of CL BB adicts, we make a mass order of vanilla beans and spices and divy them all up. It'll be the best smelling luggage around!:D