That "bulk-order" vanillia from the bay...

OCdude · 9 Dec 2011 at 19:15

Received them - man they have stunk my flat out haha! (despite arriving vacuum packed!)

They're smaller than I imagined, but the proof is in the pudding is in the eating - so I'll try them in some creme brulees this weekend and see how they turn out!

Glaucus · 12 Dec 2011 at 17:14

Sweet, just ordered some. Glad they seem to be well received.

Ferax · 13 Dec 2011 at 15:12

Great find, thanks for this, just ordered some as well

Ahleckz · 16 Dec 2011 at 00:24

Anyone want to undercut the supermarkets and post me 2 pods?

Glaucus · 16 Dec 2011 at 00:30

Ahleckz said:
Anyone want to undercut the supermarkets and post me 2 pods?

Went I get mine, I'll send you some for nought.

EdwardTeach · 16 Dec 2011 at 00:42

Other than the hot chocolate and ice cream what else can you put vanilla in?
I have some I bought in Kerala and it will probably go off before I use it.

Glaucus · 16 Dec 2011 at 00:47

Anything that requires whipped cream.
Sauces toffee and vanilla.
Cakes

Even goes in some savoury dishes but never tried cooking with it savoury.

boxman2000 · 16 Dec 2011 at 08:49

So has anyone tried it in hot chocolate? If so what amount?

OCdude · 16 Dec 2011 at 09:18

EdwardTeach said:
Other than the hot chocolate and ice cream what else can you put vanilla in?
I have some I bought in Kerala and it will probably go off before I use it.

I've made a fair amount of Crème brûlées with mine (which is essentially just cooked custard).

Could also try things like vanilla mashed potatoes - that seems to be the "in" thing at the moment... just don't overdo it on the vanilla!

Glaucus · 16 Dec 2011 at 15:23

Ahleckz said:
Anyone want to undercut the supermarkets and post me 2 pods?

Trust me your address.

beh · 19 Dec 2011 at 19:41

OCdude said:
They're smaller than I imagined

Aye, just had some arrive today and they're perhaps half the size/length of the ones I'd received earlier this year which were described as "Grade "AAAAA" premium...". Judging from the smell they don't seem to pack quite the same punch either, just making a creme caramel now so will see.

Glaucus · 4 Jan 2012 at 20:53

Sorry Alheckz. Totaly forgot, will try and remember tomorrow.

Can't say I'm impressed, how have they been stored they have an odd smell and taste. Are other peoples like this?

beh · 4 Jan 2012 at 21:15

Glaucus said:
odd smell

Ye, bit of an odd smell to them, slightly artificial almost.

Glaucus · 4 Jan 2012 at 21:18

beh said:
Ye, bit of an odd smell to them, slightly artificial almost.

Odd taste as well, but massively odd smell. I can only presume some sort of preservative. It almost reminds me of vinegar, but nothing like it at the same time. Or oil, it doesn't appear to evaporate.

Seen these that look dry, might give them a go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-VANILL...rden_Food_SM&hash=item4156e3da2f#ht_500wt_689

beh · 4 Jan 2012 at 21:44

Glaucus said:
Odd taste as well, but massively odd smell. I can only presume some sort of preservative. It almost reminds me of vinegar, but nothing like it at the same time. Or oil, it doesn't appear to evaporate

Seen these that look dry, might give them a go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-VANILL...rden_Food_SM&hash=item4156e3da2f#ht_500wt_689

Aye, can't quite describe the smell, but that ebay link is useful in describing how they don't smell, "fresh and very frag[r]ant". Taste, not so much odd, just lacking strength. For the money I'm pretty content, will just have to use more of them.

Similarly just had a quick look at other offerings on ebay, quite a few sellers popping up but hard to differentiate between them. I don't think dry is a quality I'd go for, the best ones I've had were very plump and almost juicy, could smell them across a room.

Glaucus · 4 Jan 2012 at 21:51

When I mean dry, they look like supermarket ones. Rather than these super cheap ones in that browny/orange liquid.

xxShinobixx · 5 Jan 2012 at 14:34

He gets very good reviews to his vanilla. I'll put in an order to try it in my rice pudding

diverse180 · 5 Jan 2012 at 15:13

Be sure not to waste the bean itself after scraping out the seeds...just stick the bean husks into an airtight jar of sugar and leave it for a few weeks or so (longer the better really, and give it a shake every once in a while).

Vanilla sugar

boxman2000 · 5 Jan 2012 at 15:14

Forgot to post this the other day - I made some vanilla hot chocolate with these.

1 pod for 3 mugs of milk, slowly brought to a head and stirred occasionally - YUM!

I didn't notice any strange smell from pods. Advice earlier was to put them in a container and open every now and then.

Kanifee · 5 Jan 2012 at 22:27

Glaucus said:
Odd taste as well, but massively odd smell. I can only presume some sort of preservative. It almost reminds me of vinegar, but nothing like it at the same time. Or oil, it doesn't appear to evaporate.

Seen these that look dry, might give them a go.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-VANILL...rden_Food_SM&hash=item4156e3da2f#ht_500wt_689

mine arrived yesterday and i have to say i second this. made snickers semifreddo the other day and used some schwarts vanilla pod, £2.60 for one as its all i could get and it was very vanilla with a great flavor youd expect, these not so much, also oily like residue very apparent in the shrink wrap.

might get some of the drier ones and see if there a little better, ill still cook with the others and see if there is smaybe a cooking method that suits these better.