Slofoodgroup Grade B Vanilla Beans, 10 Premium Quality Extract Vanilla Pods for Making Homemade Vanilla Flavor, Vanilla Powder or Vanilla Paste, Tahitian and Bourbon Type Whole Vanilla Beans

It means I don't have to buy them separately and mix them anymore. Hey! I thought I was the only person who did that! I guess not. I've bought from Slofoodgroup several times before, both here and on their website, and they always have had great vanilla. This time I asked what the weight of the 35 pods was so I could make a better informed choice between the 35 pods and the 4 ounce bundle. They explained to me that they didn't sell the 35 pods by weight, and that weighing wasn't part of their packing process, so I decided to buy 2 packs of 35 and see if I could figure it out for myself. I really couldn't, my brain just doesn't work like that. But here are my observations; though I purchased them together in the same order they each arrived separately, so the 2 packs could've been selected randomly apart from each other, but couldn't definitely say if they were or not. Each pack did contain exactly 35 pods. There was a small difference between the weight of the 2 packs, one was 72.8 grams and the other one was 85.1 grams. One pack's pods (apparently) were just a wee bit larger than the other's. I'm pretty old, with a lot of years of experience weighing things, and it was clear (to me) while handling them which was which, but it was just a VERY slight difference. So I paid $106.00 for 5.57 ounces, as opposed to purchasing 4 ounces for $85.00, but with regard to value I've had some brain damage and I no longer have the math skills to figure out what was the most economical way to purchase the pods. Rats! :p I'm quite happy to have a little more volume of beans in my brew, I'd also wondered before buying them if 2 x 35 beans would weigh more or less than 4 ounces. I'd guessed it might, and hoped it would, but I did not know. As I previously stated, I've only ever got great vanilla from Slofoodgroup, and these were unsurprisingly beautiful. They're oily and intoxicatingly aromatic, with very little moisture. Just perfect vanilla extract beans. I'm definitely coming back next time.

Got 2 packages for making vanilla extract. They arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The sealed packaging is clear, and showed shiny beans, no mold (had mold on an order a few years ago.)I opened up both packages and slit each bean lengthwise, then slid them into a 1.75 liter bottle of 80 proof vodka. They were nice an pliable, took about 2 minutes to run a knife down all the beans.I poured out about 3 shots worth of vodka to ensure enough room for the beans. Going to top the bottle off with bourbon, as I like the rounded flavor that bourbon adds.The directions say 90 days, but the bottle I made in December 2018 finally got really strong in December of last year. So, planning ahead, I got 2 sets of beans and the large jug of inexpensive vodka. By the time I use up the 2018 extract, this new batch will be ready to go.Way more cost effective than buying from Penzeys. I love Penzey quality, but cannot fork out $94.95 for a 16oz bottle. The vodka was $11.99 for 1.75 liters and the beans were $14.95 each. The savings is well worth the time invested.

I made the best vanilla extract from these!

Fresh, pliable, and very good vanilla bean scent for grade B. The top beans are a more expensive grade B Madagascar at about $4.60 a bean currently vs. the bottom from SLO Group. Time will tell about the flavor during the extraction process.

I ordered two packets of vanilla beans; when they arrived, one packet was no longer vacuum sealed, which worried me about its shelf life and possibly compromised quality. I messaged Slofoodgroup, and they promptly messaged back and had already shipped a replacement for the compromised packet with tracking. I'm very pleased with the quick response to fix the situation, and the beans smell very nice even when vacuum sealed, and do not seem dry but nicely plump. I'm planning to make my own vanilla paste and extract, I can't wait!

still moist lots of great flavorful PULP in each one. recommend. If you really want vanilla flavor don’t mess around with that crap you get in the store in the bottle that was probably picked last millennium. Man up spend a couple bucks and buy these here and your foods will taste better than ever!

I was expecting these to be a bit dry since they were Grade B. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how moist they were and how easy they were to slice down the center. My beans all seemed to be full size with no broken pieces either. Thanks for a quality cost-effective product. I have these beans sitting in white rum for vanilla extract and so far it smells heavenly.

I ordered the beans to make home made vanilla extract for Christmas presents. For this purpose, the Grade B beans are appropriate. The beans arrived vacuum packed in good time. They were dried, but still soft enough to slice again for extract. After 2 weeks, the extract is turning a lovely dark amber and the fragrance is delightful. I sealed the swing top bottles with bee's wax before shipping to prevent any leaks during shipping. Overall very pleased with this purchase.

A lot of people start their reviews by saying they don't review products much and I'm going to be one of those people. But I'm not lying when I rarely next to never review products, even though I rely heavily on reviews when I purchase products off Amazon; this is going to be a long one.1) I haven't bought vanilla beans much before purchasing these, maybe about 2 times previously so I don't have much experience in vanilla beans but I've done LOTS of research and have used lost of pure vanilla extracts and vanilla bean pastes so I know a bit about it, not much.2) I use to work in a bakery and I bake at home all the time so vanilla is a key staple in my household.3) There are two different grades of vanilla beans, Grade A and Grade B. Grade A is more so used by any baker who wants the most punch of vanilla in their baking or cooking, using the beans straight from the pod but can also be used to make vanilla extract. Grade A is also much more potent, has more moisture content, usually longer and much more expensive. Grade B vanilla beans, on the other hand, are typically called the "Extraction Grade Vanilla Bean" because of their looks. They don't look as nice at Grade A vanilla beans, they are much dryer, shorter and not as oily on the outside. For those reasons that's why Grade B is more so used to make vanilla extract because you're just "extracting" the flavour of vanilla into your alcohol. The origin of the beans don't matter either, but Madagascar is the most commonly used, it's sweet, super flavourfull and what people usually associate vanilla with. If you use beans from other origins, different origins grow vanilla differently which can change the notes in the vanilla. These are a mix so it didn't matter too much to me.Buying these Grade B vanilla beans, when I cut into them, I noticed they are not as dry or hard as other reviews say they are. They're pretty soft and look like they have a lot more moisture in them than I initially thought. They smell amazing and come in a vacuum-sealed bag. I was pretty surprised by this but took the risk when buying them. I ordered the 10 pack but each pack I got had more than 10 in there which was a nice surprise.4) When making homemade vanilla extract there are a few things you have to consider when you make them. Do you want single fold or double fold vanilla? Do you know what kind of alcohol to use or maybe use something alcohol-free?Well first off, single and double-fold vanilla is the strength of vanilla. In my research, most store-bought vanilla extract is single fold but if you wanted double fold, it would cost you way more. That's because double fold is using double the amount of vanilla beans when making the extract. I decided to make a bigger bottle of double-fold vanilla because I want more vanilla flavour in my baking and cooking but I also made a smaller bottle of single fold vanilla just so I have something to compare.Second, the type of alcohol you use is pretty important. You don't want to just use any kind of alcohol you have lying around. You want to use alcohol that is clear and flavourless so it does not compete with the vanilla flavour when you are making your extract. Vodka is the most common type to use but lots of recipes say you can use brandy, rum or bourbon. There was one recipe I read that suggested spiced rum which gives it a unique flavour, you could do that too if you wanted, I suggest making a small batch if you're not using vodka just to try. I stuck to vodka because that's my choice of drink anyway, something that's 35-40% alcohol is ideal (70-80 proof). I made a small bottle of single fold vanilla with white rum just to try as well.There are lots of recipes out there who say the price of the vodka or whatever you are using doesn't matter, but there are a few that recommend using a mid-range vodka like Smirnoff which is what I used, again all up to you. For an alcohol-free version, people used food grade vegetable glycerin. I've personally never tried an alcohol-free version but you do have that option.5) Now that you've got all your ingredients, how long do you let your vanilla extract sit?This is also something that varied during my research. It was anything from 2 weeks to 18 months. WOW! Although you can use it right after 2 weeks, lots of bakers that I trust suggested leaving it for at least 6 months but ideally 12 months if you want the most flavour which is what I will be doing. Within those 12 months or however long you choose to let your extract sit, you have to occasionally shake your bottle; from every day for 2 weeks, then weekly for a few months and then monthly until your 12 months is up. You also have to make sure you're storing your bottle of extract in a cool, dry and dark place.Now I know I have written a lot and this is a lot for a review but I want people to understand what they are getting themselves into when you decide to make vanilla extract and maybe save you the research you need to do so I hope this helps.To summarize:-The grade of vanilla bean does not matter but if you want to save some money go for this, grade b beans as it is used specifically for making extract-Slice the vanilla beans in half so you get maximum flavour and those specks of vanilla bean in your cooking and baking-Use a mid-range alcohol, but you can use the cheapest one you can find; vodka is recommended-The general rule of thumb for making homemade vanilla extract {Single fold: 3 beans for every 4oz (118mL) of vodka; Double fold: 6 beans for every 4oz (118mL) of vodka} You can add 1-2 more beans if you like but if you use vanilla extract a lot I recommend making the double fold recipe-Let your extract sit at least a few months, 6 months if you can wait, but ideally 12 months+ if you want the best flavour possible-Let your extract sit in a cool, dark, dry area in your home. You may also use a tinted bottle if you wish-Shake your bottle every day for 2 weeks, then move to once a week for 4 months then once a month until your 12 month mark. If that is too much, minimum shake it at least once or twice a week-You may also choose to leave the beans in or strain them once it's doneI would recommend these beans, they're a great price for what you get and I had no problems when I received them. There was no mold, they weren't dry and hard like other reviews said they are. Happy vanilla extract making! Hope this long review helps everyone!

Glad to be able to find vanilla beans again. Fair price and product arrived before estimated delivery date.Using them to make my own vanilla extract, it has only been about 10 days and it already smells and taste like store bought pure vanilla extract.Will definitely be ordering again.

The pods are absolutely beautiful. They came in a vacuum sealed bag but still smelled fantastic! They weren't hard or dry and slit open very easily for making extract. I saw lots of seeds inside, and they were larger than I'd originally expected. For the price, they are absolutely fantastic and I will definitely be purchasing these again.

This came in a padded envelope and you could actually smell the well packaged vanilla through all of the packaging. I am making my own vanilla and this will be a wonderful vanilla once it ages! Would highly recommend it.

This will work great for what I need it for