What vanilla do you use, and where do you buy it?

[Anonymous]

I have made my own vanilla for years, but wasn’t paying attention and ran out. Will be a good 6 months before I have a supply ready to use. There is a lot of baking to be done before then. What’s your favorite vanilla (balancing price and quality), and where do you get it? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have a hookup at the Embassy of Madagascar in DC.

[Anonymous]

Nielsen Massey for quality. Get from Costco if you’ll be baking a lot. I also like the Costco brand vanilla just fine, and it’s a lot cheaper.

[Anonymous]

I've been using Trader Joe's vanilla paste but it's only so-so. Just scrape the seeds out of a vanilla bean while you wait for your vanilla for steep.

[Anonymous]

Costco

[Anonymous]

Watkins on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Nielsen Massey from TJ Maxx.

[Anonymous]

Penzeys

[Anonymous]

I like the Simply Organic brand. It's usually at Whole Foods and sometimes Giant has it. (My local Giant has had unreliable stock lately.) I think it's a notch above McCormick's brand.

[Anonymous]

McCormick. I don’t like the Costco one for what I use it for. I have it but it smells weak.

[Anonymous]

Costco - I bake a lot and go through at least 2 of their large bottles every year

[Anonymous]

Madagascar vanilla from Trader Joe’s

[Anonymous]

I bought two vanilla bean pods on a whim the other day for $25. Seemed like a lot but I don’t know what’s normal. Now I have to figure out what to do with them.

[Anonymous]

Penzeys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought two vanilla bean pods on a whim the other day for $25. Seemed like a lot but I don’t know what’s normal. Now I have to figure out what to do with them.

I heard vanilla beans were sold at Trader Joe's right now for about four bucks a baggie but the last time I was there I couldn't find them and was in a hurry so didn't have time to look very hard. Maybe call them.