Top 9 Vanilla Extract BrandsVanilla is an essential cooking ingredient for which there is no true substitute. The flavor of real vanilla is made up of over 250 organic components, which gives it great depth and complexity, compared to only one flavor component in artificial vanilla. There are three main types of vanilla: Madagascar Bourbon (named after the Bourbon islands not the liquor), Tahitian (fruity),and Mexican (spicy). Here is a list of premium vanilla extracts that I consider to be the very best. A masterful blend of premium Madagascar Bourbon and Tahitian vanilla beans are used to create this wonderfully fragrant and flavorful extract. $19.99 for 8-ounce bottle. Available to buy direct from Sonoma Syrup or from several gourmet shops around the country. Check their website for more details. Really, really good vanilla at very reasonable prices. Aromatic, nice balance, with beautiful color. A favorite of pastry chefs. $12.85 for 8 ounces or $19.75 for 16 ounces. Also available from The Vanilla Company is a certified organic version as well as Mexican and Tahitian vanilla bean extracts. The only commercial grower in the United States, this extract is made from vanilla beans cultivated and processed in Hawaii. A small, family operation, owners Jim and Tracy Reddekopp have turned a labor of love into a successful business. Deep, smooth flavor. Especially recommended for baking. $15.00 for 4-ounce bottle. Nielson-Massey Vanillas has been in business almost 100 years. They consistently produce some of the finest vanilla extracts you can buy. Products available include Madagascar Bourbon, Tahitian, Mexican, and 100% Organic. Although you can't buy directly from the company, these vanilla extracts are available everywhere at grocery stores, gourmet shops, and online sites like A Cook's Ware, Chef's Catalog, and Baker's Catalogue. About $20 for 8 ounces, $37.95 for 32 ounces. Penzeys, one of my favorite sources for spices, also makes a great vanilla extract. $9.50 for 4 ounces, $27.95 for 16 ounces. A nice, flavorful vanilla extract. Also available in Tahitian and Organic varieties. $8.59 for 4 ounces, $34.49 for 16 ounces. You can buy direct, but Frontier Coop is a brand you will find at many gourmet shops and health food stores. Madagascar, Mexican, and Tahitian vanillas. Very reasonable prices, especially when you buy the larger quantities. Madagascar and Tahitian varieties are also available in sugarless varieties for low-carb diets. $12.00 for 8 ounces, $23.50 for 16 ounces, $28.95 for 1 quart, $98.00 for 1 gallon. All natural, fair trade, organic vanilla extract made from beans grown in Papua New Guinea. Buy direct or check their website for a listing of stores that carry Singing Dog Vanilla. This relatively new company sells Madagascar, Tahitian, and Mexican vanilla extracts. Their Mexican Vanilla is premium quality unlike most Mexican vanilla extracts on the market. Prices range from $9.95 to $12.95 for a 4 ounce bottle and $15.95 to $19.95 for 8 ounces. | 
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