Vanilla 101
The Birth of Vanilla Extract: A Sweet Revolution in Culinary History
Discover how vanilla extract was first created in 1847 by Boston chemist Joseph Burnett, revolutionizing baking and making the world's favorite flavor accessible to everyone.
Getting 100% Value from Your Vanilla Beans: The Oil Weight Secret
Learn why vanilla bean oils affect pouch weight and discover how to transform residual oils into luxurious vanilla sugar. Get 100% value from your beans while making perfect extract with the true single-fold ratio.
The Natural Shield: Antimicrobial Properties of Vanilla Bean Oils
Explore the fascinating antimicrobial properties of vanilla bean oils and how they naturally protect well-cured beans. Learn why oily beans are superior and how proper curing creates nature's perfect preservation system.
Vanillin Crystals: The Sparkling Sign of Perfectly Cured Vanilla Beans
Discover why vanillin crystals on vanilla beans are a sign of exceptional quality, not mold. Learn how to identify these sparkling formations and why they indicate perfectly cured, premium vanilla.
25 Days of Vanilla Sugar: A Christmas Baking Countdown
Celebrate the season with 25 creative ways to use vanilla sugar in your Christmas baking! From classic cookies to festive beverages, discover how vanilla sugar elevates every holiday treat.
10 Christmas Desserts That Demand the Very Best Vanilla Extract
Discover 10 Christmas desserts where premium vanilla extract truly shinesβfrom classic crΓ¨me brΓ»lΓ©e and vanilla buttercream to homemade eggnog, panna cotta, cream pies, vanilla hot cocoa, festive cocktails, and elegant pots de crΓ¨me. Learn why cream-based desserts demand the very best vanilla.
100 Cocktails Elevated by DIY Vanilla Extracts: The Ultimate Mixology Guide
Discover 100 cocktails elevated by DIY vanilla extracts! From Madagascar vanilla Old Fashioneds to mocha vanilla Espresso Martinis, spiced extracts in Hot Toddies, citrus vanilla Margaritas, and spirit-based extracts in premium cocktails. Learn how different vanilla origins and infusions transform classic and creative drinks.
5 Ways to Gift Vanilla Extract NowβWithout Waiting for It to Finish
Want to gift vanilla extract but don't want to wait months? Discover 5 creative ways to give vanilla at any stageβfrom DIY starter kits with beans and vodka, to patience gifts that age over time, vanilla sugar, the ultimate extract maker's kit with multiple origins and our best-selling book, or finished extract paired with beans for next year.
5 Thanksgiving Desserts Where Premium Extracts Truly Shine
Discover 5 Thanksgiving desserts and dishes where premium extracts truly shineβfrom pumpkin spice in pies to Madagascar vanilla in crΓ¨me brΓ»lΓ©e and chocolate extract in fudge. Learn how to use your extracts liberally for unforgettable holiday flavor.
Speeding Up Vanilla Extract: Sous Vide Techniques & Why We Don't Recommend Pressure Cookers
Discover safe techniques to speed up homemade vanilla extract using sous vide circulation, why we advise against pressure cookers, and why our best extracts still come from traditional slow aging for complex, smooth flavor.
Thomas Jefferson and Vanilla Ice Cream: Separating Myth from Historical Fact
Explore the truth about Thomas Jefferson and vanilla ice cream. While he didn't invent it, Jefferson's documented love for vanilla beans and his role in popularizing ice cream in America is a fascinating piece of culinary history, supported by primary sources from the Library of Congress and his own account books.
How Madagascar Became the World's Vanilla Capital: A 170-Year Journey
Discover how Madagascar became the world's vanilla capital, producing over 70% of global supply. Learn when vanilla arrived in the 1840s, where the first crops grew in the SAVA region, and why cultivation spread so rapidly across the island to create today's vanilla powerhouse.












