Homemade Vanilla Extract!

[Rafter H BBQ]

Hey all, we were getting a bit low on our homemade vanilla extract! This one is bout four years old & seems to just get better & better!

Well, getting a bit low so figured it was time to start another. One vanilla bean in the jar, split open & cut in half... then added vodka to near the top of the jar.

Should've started some before now, but guess better late than never!

 

[pc farmer]

I need to do this. Is that all thats to it?

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

I need to do this. Is that all thats to it?

Yep, we will give it a shake every so often but that's all!

 

[GaryHibbert]

Pretty simple proceedure but soooo much better than store bought.
Gary

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Pretty simple proceedure but soooo much better than store bought.
Gary

Totally agree Gary!

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Been a month, starting to get some nice color & smelling really good!

 

[noboundaries]

I'm down to about 48 ounces of extract. I've gone through 72 ounces in the last two and a half years. Just checked on buying a pound of beans the other day to start another 120 ounces of extract. HOLY CRAP! The price of Mexican vanilla beans is just over 4 times higher than they were two years ago. I picked up a pound of grade A Mexican vanilla beans back then for just under $100. The price is now more than $400 a pound! Turns out it is a matter of dwindling supply due to a bad harvest in 2016, plus rising demand due to the "all natural" trend. Might have to rethink this and switch to Tahitian beans and make less. Tahitian are still pricey at $76 / quarter pound.

Here's a "how to" I put together for those interested.

https://smokingmeatforums.com/threads/making-homemade-vanilla-extract.188646/

 

[tropics]

Looks good but that is some pricey Vanilla Beans
Richie

 

[motocrash]

Note to self: Buy crop futures in Vanilla and Marijuana

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Thanks all! Wow, Ray that is very pricey for sure... We were lucky I guess as we were given this jar & one other, one bean per jar! So, a $6 bottle of vodka & we were set.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Just shy of nine months, so figured I would update this. This stuff is great, again.. it gets better with age! Our last bottle lasted four years! Wish again we'd have started more sooner.

This is getting some good color & some small pieces of the vanilla bean are floating around! We finished off our four year old jar just recently... This new stuff is tasty, but not four year tasty! It's been going just shy of nine months & we are getting another jar started!

 

[Brokenhandle]

Huh... who would of thought! Afraid to check on the price of those beans now!

Ryan

 

[noboundaries]

I check several times a year. The place I order them from, Saffron.com in San Francisco, has them for $155 / lb. That's been the price for the last two years (after being north of $400/lb). The lb I bought in 2015 for $95 made 5 x 750ml bottles. I'm on the last bottle of that batch and will be making another batch this year.

Oh, and I make vanilla paste out of the leftover beans in the bottle when I empty the last of the liquid. I keep recharging the paste with vodka or bourbon then keep it in the refrigerator.

 

[Brokenhandle]

I check several times a year. The place I order them from, Saffron.com in San Francisco, has them for $155 / lb. That's been the price for the last two years (after being north of $400/lb). The lb I bought in 2015 for $95 made 5 x 750ml bottles. I'm on the last bottle of that batch and will be making another batch this year.

Oh, and I make vanilla paste out of the leftover beans in the bottle when I empty the last of the liquid. I keep recharging the paste with vodka or bourbon then keep it in the refrigerator.

View attachment 685724
View attachment 685725

Guessing you are getting the Mexican vanilla beans?

Ryan

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Note to self: Buy crop futures in Vanilla and Marijuana

Give this man a medal!

 

[Fueling Around]

How do you use that much vanilla? It takes us years to go through an 8 oz. bottle.

 

[clifish]

Is this sub standard? seems to check the boxes, Mexican bean, Grade A?

https://www.amazon.com/Stavoren-Trading-Co-Tahitian-freshness/dp/B0868X2SJ9/ref=sr_1_6?crid=8PXF6ALWHS5K&keywords=mexican+vanilla+beans&qid=1705197170&sprefix=mexican+vanilla+beans%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-6

 

[Brokenhandle]

How do you use that much vanilla? It takes us years to go through an 8 oz. bottle.

Homemade kaluha... uses 3 Tbsp per gallon batch. Make one every week or two. Totally not healthy!

Ryan

 

[clifish]

Homemade kaluha... uses 3 Tbsp per gallon batch. Make one every week or two. Totally not healthy!

Ryan

you need to elaborate on that?

 

[Brokenhandle]

you need to elaborate on that?

Kalua

Was running low on kalua so time to mix up some more. The ingredients... 8 cups of hazelnut coffee 3 cups sugar 1/3 cup instant coffee 3 Tbsp instant vanilla 1.75 L brandy Put sugar and instant coffee into bowl, when coffee is brewed pour that into bowl and stir until sugar and instant...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

Ryan