Real Vanilla

[canuckcrusiers]

We have been asked by some friends to purchase some real vanilla for them,and I'm at a loss as to where it can be purchased from and how much it would cost. We are on a 7 day Western Carribean out of Tampa on July 20-27-2008

Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated

Canuckcruisers

[canuckcrusiers]

We have been asked by some friends to purchase some real vanilla for them,and I'm at a loss as to where it can be purchased from and how much it would cost. We are on a 7 day Western Carribean out of Tampa on July 20-27-2008

Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated

Canuckcruisers

[penny3333]

Grenada is the spice island if you're going there.

[spoheat]

Most common place to get vanilla would be a Mexican port (Cozumel?). It should have some kind of government seal or insignia--apparently some denatured alcohol got used in vanilla several years ago and made people sick so now you are supposed to look for a government marker, not unlike looking for the 925 on Silver I would think. Don't know prices, but it is still pretty resonable compared to the spice aisle at the supermarket here.

[Dave]

It is probably fresher and cheaper to simply get vanilla locally at a spice shop, or on-line. Most of the stuff in the tourist areas has probably been sitting there for a while, unless it is Grenada.

But a bigger issue is this: Cooks Illustrated did a test a while back and can tell no real difference between recipes made with artificial vanilla and "real" vanilla.

[Jim C.]

quote:

Commodore

Posted June 06, 2008 10:58 AM Hide Post
It is probably fresher and cheaper to simply get vanilla locally at a spice shop, or on-line. Most of the stuff in the tourist areas has probably been sitting there for a while, unless it is Grenada.

Well its definetly not cheaper to buy it local Dave. We always pick up a bottle or two when we are in Mexico (Cozumel). You can buy it from the liquor stores or any of the market shops. Its probably freshest from the liqour stores.

But as for cost, you can get a quart of true vanilla for $9 to $12 as in the states you would pay that for an ounce of it.

[susanmaz]

In Sonora, you usually find Molina's - but you do need to check that it isn't extract. Look for Red Rooster (there is a red rooster on the label) - - it comes in light or dark... the light is nice because it doesn't color your cooking. In the north, you can find Molinas everywhere - Red Rooster usually in the pharmacias or liquor stores - and maybe a grocery store.

[Dave]

quote:

But as for cost, you can get a quart of true vanilla for $9 to $12 as in the states you would pay that for an ounce of it.

A bottle of vanilla lasts me a long time so the price isn't that big of a deal to me. I usually get stuff from Penzey's and their vanilla costs $10 for 4 ounces. That is made with Madagascar vanilla, considered some of the world's finest.

[spoheat]

We go through an ounce of vanilla a month! Apparently you are not a big baker! The big bottles from Mexico are worthwhile for us, just haven't done it for awhile--don't want to put a big glass bottle in my suitcase and never know about taking a liquid, even a sealed one, on the plane if you see what I mean.

[drlivingston]

Any liquid that I am transporting from Mexico can only be consumed one shot at a time...