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Can I Blend My Spirits/Alcohols When Making Vanilla Extract?

Can I Blend My Spirits/Alcohols When Making Vanilla Extract?

Got a half bottle of one vodka and a half bottle of another? Here's what you need to know before blending spirits for your homemade vanilla extract.
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Uganda Vanilla vs. Tanzania Vanilla: Two African Vanilla Beans, Two Very Different Extracts

Uganda Vanilla vs. Tanzania Vanilla: Two African Vanilla Beans, Two Very Different Extracts

Ugandan and Tanzanian vanilla beans are both V. planifolia from East Africa — but they couldn't taste more different. Compare their flavor profiles, best uses, and ideal spirits to find your perfect African vanilla extract.
The Birthday Gift That Lasts for Decades: Make Vanilla Extract for Someone You Love

The Birthday Gift That Lasts for Decades: Make Vanilla Extract for Someone You Love

A homemade vanilla extract gift box is the perfect birthday gift — personal, beautiful, and built to last for decades. Learn how to choose the right vanilla beans, monthly blend, jar, label, spirit, and finishing touches to create a birthday memory that never expires.
Mexican vs. Madagascar V. pompona: A Tale of Two Pomponas

Mexican vs. Madagascar V. pompona: A Tale of Two Pomponas

V. pompona is one of the rarest vanilla species on earth — and Mexican and Madagascar pompona are its two most distinctive expressions. They share a species name but deliver dramatically different flavor profiles: the Mexican Oaxaca is bold, dark, and earthy with caramel and molasses depth, while the Madagascar Ambilobe is bright, tropical, and banana-forward. Learn how to tell them apart visually, what makes each one unique, and which spirits bring out the best in both.
5 Springtime Vanilla Extracts You Must Make This Season

5 Springtime Vanilla Extracts You Must Make This Season

Spring calls for light, floral, and delicately sweet vanilla extracts. Here are 5 origin-and-spirit combinations to start now — perfect for macarons, berry tarts, whipped creams, and warm-weather cocktails.
Why Hurricanes Never Cross the Equator — And What That Means for Vanilla Farmers

Why Hurricanes Never Cross the Equator — And What That Means for Vanilla Farmers

Hurricanes and typhoons cannot cross the equator — a fact of atmospheric physics that has profound implications for vanilla farming. Learn why equatorial growing regions are storm-protected, and what Cyclone Enawo's 2017 destruction of Madagascar's vanilla crop revealed about global supply chain fragility.
Why Is There Condensation Inside My Vanilla Extract Jar?

Why Is There Condensation Inside My Vanilla Extract Jar?

Noticed condensation inside your sealed vanilla extract jar? It's completely normal. Learn the science behind why moisture forms inside a closed jar with alcohol and vanilla beans — and what it means for your extract.
VanillaPura Pro
Hawaiian vs. Mexican Veracruz Vanilla Beans: Same Species, Worlds Apart in Flavor

Hawaiian vs. Mexican Veracruz Vanilla Beans: Same Species, Worlds Apart in Flavor

Both Hawaiian and Mexican Veracruz vanilla beans are Vanilla planifolia — but their terroir creates dramatically different flavor profiles. Learn which beans pair best with which spirits for crafting exceptional homemade vanilla extract.
When Can I Make Vanilla Extract to Give for Christmas?

When Can I Make Vanilla Extract to Give for Christmas?

Think it's too late to make vanilla extract for Christmas? The answer is ANY time. Learn why freshly made extract makes a perfect holiday gift — and discover ready-to-use alternatives like vanilla sugar, paste, and powder.
VanillaPura Pro
Sri Lanka vs. Congo Vanilla: Two Expressions of V. planifolia and the Perfect Spirit for Each

Sri Lanka vs. Congo Vanilla: Two Expressions of V. planifolia and the Perfect Spirit for Each

Sri Lankan and Congolese V. planifolia beans share a species but tell very different stories. One is creamy and delicate, the other bold and earthy. Here's how they compare — and which spirits bring out the best in each.
Summertime Is Extract Time: Why V. tahitensis Vanilla Beans Are Summer's Secret Ingredient

Summertime Is Extract Time: Why V. tahitensis Vanilla Beans Are Summer's Secret Ingredient

V. tahitensis vanilla beans — grown in Tahiti, Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, and beyond — bring a light, fruity, floral sweetness that's made for summer. Start your extract now in vodka, gin, or white rum and it'll be ready just in time for next summer's best moments.
Mexican Vanilla Extract And Why You Should Make Your Own

Mexican Vanilla Extract And Why You Should Make Your Own

Store-bought Mexican vanilla extract often contains corn syrup, added sugars, and even harmful additives. Making your own lets you choose premium beans, select your favorite spirit, and enjoy pure Mexican vanilla extract in its finest form.