Making Vanilla Extract From Vanilla Beans??

[maygoddess]

Hey Past TP Pax...

ANyone every buy any vanilla beans in Tahiti and make Vanilla Extract from them. I was told all I had to do was take a whole vanilla bean or two and put them in a bottle of rum and let them soak for a few months at minimum. I am just wondering if they should really be left whole or cut up. I received different answers.

On Raiatea where we went to a small vanilla farm..what I could understand from the gal selling the vanilla..she said the beans could last 10-12 years if used over and over again..so cutting them up would mean I would lose all the vanilla seeds in the first batch.
In Papeete at the marche, the gal who sold me more vanilla beans(better price than Raiatea) told me no..

Reading online on Google..I get that you should cut them..

SO..I experimented so far..I cut up one vanilla bean and placed in a small amount of light rum..of course now all the vanilla seeds are floating in there..and the rum..after about 3 weeks of soaking already has a nice light vanilla scent. I then bought some white rum..and put 2-3 vanilla pods in each..and have been letting them soak now for a few weeks..no change in color and maybe a light vanilla scent but not as strong as the cut up one.

SO anyone do this with Tahitian vanilla and did you cut up the pods or not? ANy luck?

I know it will take at least 3-4 months to get my first batch..but I don't want to waste 3 montsh and find I should have cut them up..but wondering how then I would be able to reuse given these seeds are two small to strain and keep in there for next batch..

Help!

[ocean.queen]

Hi Patty,

We visited the vanilla farm on Raiatea and his recipe for vanilla extract is: slice SIX vanilla beans length-wise on one side to expose inside but leaving paste in tact...place sliced beans in ONE LITRE of RUM and store in a dark place for at least 3 MONTHS. I dried the beans just a bit then put one in my powdered sugar and coffee can, and the others in a sealed jar to use for a bit of flavor later. Scrape the paste and use in homemade whip cream, ice cream or cake (shortcake, etc).

Hope this helps,
Kathy

[jmike]

If you want your vanilla extract not to taste like vanilla rum then try using vodka instead. Any vodka will do and the cheaper ones are just fine.
Mike

[gilb_gilb2005]

Hi Patty, Hi everybody,

I am Gilbert, the nephew of Mrs CHANE Jeanne, the famous vanilla preparer of Raiatea. She has her shop downtown of Raiatea which is name "Magasin VANIRA". Pass beside her shop and you will smell the good perfume of her vanilla. Visit the shop, you will not regret it. If you want the best vanilla, this is the best place to buy it. Ask anybody around downtown, they will direct you towards her or visit her web site at http://www.tahitivanille.com or http://www.tahitivanilla.biz/index2.htm for the English site.

To make a good vanilla rum, if you have Mrs CHANE Jeanne'vanilla which is very very perfumed, you only need 3 beans, otherwise, you will need 6 beans. Just slice each vanilla beans length-wise on one side and drop it into the bottle of 1 liter of rum. Roll up the stopper of the bottle while overflowing on glass with Scotch tape to avoid the evaporation of alcohol and perfume. Leave the bottle in a dark place for at least 3 months. Better is 9 to 12 months.

How to make a very good vanilla tahitian punch ? Be careful, you will need to drink more and more, go slowly, alcool effect will come 5 minutes after drink. Put 2 (soft) or 3 (strong) tablespoon of vanilla rum into a glass. Add hte juice of half a citrus fruit. Add 1 tablespoon of cane sugar syrup. Add ice and mix a little bit and it is time to ENJOY.

For those persons who buy both Mrs CHANE Jeanne's vanilla and other vanilla, try to make a bottle of vanilla rum with each type of vanilla. Compare and you will see the big difference.

ENJOY and hope you will visit her shop on your next trip.

Gilbert.

[jmike]

Gilbert, thank you for your post. I will plan to come by Mrs. CHANE Jeanne shop when I am in Raiatea next year to buy my vanilla. The web site was very well done.

Mike

[gilb_gilb2005]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for viewing my aunt's web site. She will be very happy to meet you in her Raiatea shop by next year. Try her tahiti vanilla, you will not be disappointed. Should I be useful for you or others, do not hesitate do ask questions about tahiti vanilla. I will try my best to help you.
Enjoy your next trip in Raiatea.
Gilbert.

[gilb_gilb2005]

Hi Patty and every cruise critic member,

- How long vanilla beans last ?
They last 6 to 7 years if they are preserved in a glass jar, after that,
they will crystallize.

- Can I re-use a tahiti vanilla bean ?
Yes, after each use, you have to wash a little bit in clear water and let
it dry slowly in an warm oven. Re-use until there are no more tahiti
vanilla seeds.

Hope that will be helpful.

Gilbert.

[vickie1ok]

How much can you get the beans for? Also, what about customs? Do they allow you to bring them back in the country?

[gilb_gilb2005]

Hi Vickie1ok,

You can buy the vanilla in my aunt’s shop downtown of Raiatea which is named "Magasin VANIRA". The price for the sachets of 8 vanilla beans is US$10 and the price for the sachets of 20 pods for US$25. IF you want buy more starting from 500g, you can contact me so that I prepare you the vanilla to which I join a plant health certificate issued by the ministry for the agriculture which enables you to pass the customs without concern. Price is 25,000 FCP (local money) per kilo for the vanilla of 14-15cm length. You can visit her web site at http://www.tahitivanille.com or http://www.tahitivanilla.biz/index2.htm for the English site.

Hope to be helpful.
Gilbert.
You can also contact me at gilbert.chan@mail.pf