topic Re: Pure Vanilla Extract in Kitchen

Pure Vanilla Extract

coffee drinker — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:04:34 GMT

Finally the prices have come down to something affordable. Just saw 16 oz. at Costco, Kirkland brand, for $16. At it's highest, I saw it there at almost $36. About time.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

BabyYoda — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:08:25 GMT

That is good to hear. Thanks! I haven't purchased it because the prices are so high. I will be heading to Costco then. I need to get some for baking and for the holidays coming up.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 06:18:04 GMT

Huh ... were we also having a vanilla extract shortage, too? Can't keep track anymore.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

itsmagic — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:22:53 GMT

I went to Costco last week and noticed the lower priced pure vanilla extract so I grabbed one.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:41:34 GMT

I'm on my last few drops left in one bottle and have another in reserve (yes, I paid a lot for it). I'll be at Costco this weekend so I'll pick up another for the supply closet if the price is down.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

aroc3435 — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:30:22 GMT

@coffee drinker Glad you posted this good news from the culinary world.

@Tinkrbl44 No, this shortage started in 2017 when weather impacted growing conditions coupled by rising demands for real vanilla in the food industry due to increased customer preference for real, versus artificial, flavor.

Of course, the adverse conditions of the pandemic added additional stress on the market.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

deeva — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:27:23 GMT

I stocked up before the price increase. So I didn't have to buy any in the last four years.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

RespectLife — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 14:02:57 GMT

@deeva wrote:
I stocked up before the price increase. So I didn't have to buy any in the last four years.

I did too @deeva

The Spice House warned of the upcoming price increases back then, so I stocked up.

I couldn't believe how high the prices got for real vanilla.

Just started my last bottle recently.

I would not stop baking...so it would have been an evil cost I just would have absorbed. So glad I waited it out.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

faeriemoon — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 14:18:42 GMT

I think the Costco price change has more to do with the origin of the vanilla. Kirkland vanilla extract used to come from Madagascar, which apparently produces a superior quality vanilla extract. These days it's made in the USA and I believe NOT sold under the Kirkland name. Just Pure Vanilla Extract.

I don't think it's as good as it once was, however it is just as good (and more economical) than anything you find at the grocery store.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

Mistreatedbycs — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 15:29:04 GMT

I use Watkins, raised on all their products and then I sold them for a couple years.

Haven't found a one that didn't taste good or the aches and pains balms work too!

If you buy the Watkins organic lemon extract, there's a recipe on the back of the box using a cake mix for cupcakes that are absolutely delicious.

Another favorite is Nielsen-Massey extracts. A little goes a long way, I buy the vanilla bean paste which is absolutely the best. So far the best prices were on Zulily when the company is featured.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

vabreeze — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:46:05 GMT

A couple years ago as I was picking up a bottle of vanilla extract, another shopper, picking up imitation vanilla, started a conversation with me in which she shared that since reading that there are times vanilla flavoring works better than vanilla extract, she no longrt buys the extract. She said, as best as I can recall, that the flavoring tended to do better in cooked things and the extract produces better results in foods like ice-cream, milkshakes and foods requiring not a lot of cooking. Of course, this information went in one ear and out my other ear. That is, until I read this thread and decided to Google if any of that shopper's 'perception' had any validity. Seems it does ('tho I don't see myself becoming a consumer of imitation vanilla anytime soon)!!

Here is an iarticle, if interested, that explains her claim:

Is Real Vanilla Always Better than Imitation Vanilla?

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

coffee drinker — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:49:31 GMT

@faeriemoon wrote:
I think the Costco price change has more to do with the origin of the vanilla. Kirkland vanilla extract used to come from Madagascar, which apparently produces a superior quality vanilla extract. These days it's made in the USA and I believe NOT sold under the Kirkland name. Just Pure Vanilla Extract.

I don't think it's as good as it once was, however it is just as good (and more economical) than anything you find at the grocery store.

@faeriemoon The vanilla extract I saw at Costco was Kirkland brand. I did not notice where the vanilla originated. Next time I'm there, I will check.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

faeriemoon — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 20:35:59 GMT

@coffee drinker I would be interested to know. The one currently in my pantry is labeled Pure Vanilla Extract, and it is made in the US. I used to buy Kirkland Pure Madagascar Vanilla (or something close to that wording) but they no longer have it.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

coffee drinker — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 02:11:45 GMT

@faeriemoon We usually go to Costco every 2 or 3 weeks so I'll check the label and I'll take a pic of the front & back of the bottle. Not really sure how to post pics here or anywhere, but I'll try and will get back to you -- if I remember.

Re: Pure Vanilla Extract

thechedda — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 03:58:10 GMT

Beanilla. They are excellent. Have not been disappoointed. A tad more expensive, yet for me, worth it: Vanilla, Extracts & Flavorings Company | Beanilla