Every Monday in our Making Vanilla Extract by VanillaPura Facebook group, we invite our members to share something truly specialβtheir Memorial Monday stories. These aren't just tales about vanilla extract. They're heartfelt tributes to the people and moments that have shaped our lives, preserved forever in bottles of homemade vanilla.
Vanilla extract is about flavor and sweetness, yes. But given the fact that extracts can last for years and years, some people make extracts to remember people and moments that are special to them. These bottles become time capsules of love, memory, and connection.
Here are some of the beautiful stories our community has shared:
A Mother's Heavenly Birthday
"Last year was the first year celebrating my mother's birthday without her. She lost her battle with brain cancer. My mother was a great cook and superb baker. We always talked about making our own vanilla extracts. Through her time in Hospice Care, we discovered the VanillaPura group and our interest in the extracts and recipes grew. My daughters and a few of my closest friends decided in honoring my mother on her first Heavenly Birthday, we would spend it in kitchenβ¦a place where you could always find her. This group is more than about making extracts, it's about supporting and encouraging others. It's about kindness and understanding. It's about positive thinking and guidance. This is truly a special place to be. π€π«π©π³π§"
The Major
"I lost my dad, Major, a year ago. He wasn't the baker but he loved fresh baked sweets. We were very close as we both enjoyed the outdoors and the sciences. He was a nuclear chemist and I'm a math/biology double major. After he passed I decided to make an extract in his memory. I named it The Major. I used this vodka as we went to Hilton Head every year for as long as I can remember. We had some great times and I miss him soooo much."
Mel-nilla: A Legacy of Love
"My beloved friend Melissa shared vanilla and taught us the love of crafting it. Sadly, our dear friend passed away a few years ago of pancreatic cancer. Since then, I've continued to make 'Mel-nilla' to give to others in her honor while sharing her beautiful life story."
Forever in Our Hearts
"I lost my dad 3 years ago today so I made an extract in his memory. New Amsterdam with the 3 Bean blend. The one in Jim Beam I made two years ago will wait a little longer. 'Forever in our hearts.'"
Special Blend: A Journey Across Oceans
"In 2007 my parents left the Florida keys in their 43 ft trawler named 'Special Blend'. So I started a 'Special Blend mix' from all the countries they visited all the way thru the Panama Canal to New Zealand. They spent 6 seasons out in the South Pacific. I got to visit French Polynesia and Vanuatu. I'm hoping to grow some beans here in Florida to add to the mix someday π€©
The Tahitian beans that started my whole VP rabbit hole started the bottle. Vanuatu, Brisbane, Mexico, Hawaii, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Ecuador, and Tonga are brewing/ready to add. I saw Guatemala was available so those went in the basket. It's a long term project π₯°"
Share Your Story
These stories remind us that vanilla extract is more than an ingredientβit's a vessel for memory, love, and legacy. Each bottle holds not just vanilla beans and spirits, but the essence of the people and experiences we hold dear.
We invite you to join our Making Vanilla Extract by VanillaPura Facebook group and share your story on our next Memorial Monday post. Whether you're honoring a loved one, commemorating a special journey, or celebrating a meaningful moment, your story matters.
This group is more than about making extractsβit's about supporting and encouraging others. It's about kindness, understanding, positive thinking, and guidance. This is truly a special place to be.
