Good Source for a Few High Quality Cooking Ingredients
Written: Feb 04 '08 (Updated May 07 '08)
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Vanilla, Saffron Imports
In late 2007 I was casting about for a good source of whole vanilla beans. I do a lot of baking, and had heard that it's a simple matter to make your own vanilla extract. Since vanilla extract is very expensive, I wanted to give it a try. A fellow foodie directed me to the Vanilla, Saffron website, saying he'd been very happy with the quality of the vanilla beans he bought from this company.
I duly headed to Vanilla, Saffron's website, which has a fairly homespun feeling about it. It's not a particularly slick interface, but it worked just fine so far as my needs were concerned. They don't sell many products - just vanilla beans, vanilla extract, saffron threads, and dried mushrooms. I learned quite a bit about the varieties of vanilla from the text on their website, and about saffron, even though I wasn't ordering any. The products they do sell are displayed with large photographs to show the quantities and fairly detailed descriptions for each variety. I imagine they don't have a photograph for each variety of vanilla bean because there's not all that much difference in their appearance.
I placed my order for vanilla beans through the website about two weeks before Christmas, opting for half a pound each of two different varieties. I admit that I was partly motivated to buy that much by the bonus gifts of a bottle of vanilla extract and a bar of vanilla soap. I figured the bonus goodies would make for nice stocking stuffers, and they did. Placing my order was straightforward and easy. I got an immediate email confirmation of my order. In a day or two, another email arrived letting me know my order had shipped and providing a UPS tracking number.
I wasn't too surprised when my order failed to show up within the estimated shipping time. It was after all the Christmas season rush, and we had some severe weather in my area at the time. Vanilla, Saffron Imports offers shipping through UPS, at three different speeds. I hadn't ordered the vanilla beans for any time in particular, so I opted for the slowest and cheapest method. I can't complain about this too much.
When the vanilla beans arrived, I opened each vacuum-sealed packet to experience sensory overload. The fragrance of both varieties of vanilla was so powerful it was nearly intoxicating. I really felt a little giddy and dizzy when taking a deep whiff. This is the sort of powerful smell that makes aromatherapy seem convincing, at least for a little while. There were slight differences between the scents of the Tahitian beans and the Madagascar beans, and more than an inch difference in their lengths. It was interesting to experience the subtle nuances of the beans, something I'd never had the opportunity to do before. I don't have much to judge by, but I was impressed by the quality of the beans. The bags they shipped in were coated inside with a film of vanilla oil that seemed too precious to just throw away.
Since my order arrived, I've had fun cooking with the beans, starting a batch of homemade extract, and making vanilla sugar. The vanilla sugar is actually just a convenient by-product of the storage method Vanilla, Saffron Imports recommended for the beans. Although the sugar will remove water from the beans, the vanilla oils will remain inside, and the beans can be reconstituted any time for cooking. So now I've got several jars of two different kinds of vanilla sugar. I plan to give them as house gifts whenever I go visiting. The vanilla soap turned out to be a hit too. My husband likes the vegetable oil-based soap, and I've gotten to try it too. My first batch of vanilla extract is still "brewing." It's a six-week process, but it already smells wonderful.
Vanilla, Saffron Imports has a minimum order of $12, which is exceeded by any half-pound order of vanilla beans. They do sell the beans in smaller quantities as well, so if you want to sample smaller quantities of more varieties, you can do that to meet the minimum order amount.
My purchasing experience with this site was acceptable if unremarkable. Certainly they offer better prices, even with shipping added on, than any local vendor in my area. I'm happy with the quality of their products and wouldn't hesitate to order from them again. If you're looking for a source of high quality and well priced vanilla beans, I can recommend this company. I'd probably go to them first for saffron as well.
If you're interested in the method for making your own vanilla extract, this is a great site showing how to do it, with detailed instructions and pictures.
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Vanilla-Extraction/
Other edibles found in my kitchen, or not, as the case may be:
• Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes - A distinctive note in any recipe calling for canned tomatoes
• Muir Glen Organic Hearty Tomato Soup - for when the chef doesn't feel like cooking
• Twinings Prince of Wales Tea - Distinctive yet mellow, good for an afternoon cuppa
• Arrowhead Mills Organic Popcorn - Happiness by the bowl
• Wasabi Powder - Sinus-clearing fun in a can
• Rusticchella d'Abruzzo Arrabbiata Sauce - Inferior to what you can easily make for yourself
• Rothschild Raspberry Preserves - Culinary gold you can spread on toast
• Ancho Chile Powder - Add pizzazz to so many different dishes
• Campofrio Lomo - long-cured Spanish pork indulgence
• Coppola's organic Mafalde pasta - fancy pasta for an occasional indulgence
• McCann's Steel Cut Oats - eat like a king on a peasant's budget
• Central Milling Organic Bread Flour - better than white flour, better than whole wheat
• Kadoya Toasted Sesame Oil - concentrated sesame flavor
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: back east
Reviews written: 418
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About Me: Wisdom begins in wonder. - Socrates
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