[Jamestown1630]

My husband used to buy all of our spices and herbs at the Bloomsburg Fair every year, from a company called ‘The Spice Man’. The big flood in 2011 seemed to disrupt things, and he didn’t see them there any more; but they are online.

Considering the cost of vanilla extract in the grocery store and what a small amount you get, $2.50 per bean doesn’t seem that high - and once you make it and seal and store properly, it’s going to last a very long time.

http://www.the-spice-man.com/shop/vanilla-bean?rq=vanilla%20bean

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a99489/how-to-make-vanilla-extract/

[Grammy]

"Considering the cost of vanilla extract in the grocery store and what a small amount you get, $2.50 per bean doesn’t seem that high - and once you make it and seal and store properly, it’s going to last a very long time."

I have paid between $10-$15 per ounce. It depends greatly on the bean types but they run maybe 8-15 beans per ounce. The way to get good vanilla is to plan 1 ounce of beans per cup of liquor. Once your vanilla has aged sufficiently, you can transfer it to a new bottle and use the beans again. My favorite so far is the vanilla I made in a locally distilled bourbon. It's fun to see what the different beans create.

[boatbums]

Anyone try using vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract? Anything I should know before I try it?