When shopping for vanilla beans, you'll often see them sold by count—"10 beans," "25 beans," or "50 beans per package." But here's a secret that experienced extract makers know: the size of your vanilla beans matters far less than you might think when it comes to flavor. What really matters is the total weight you're getting.
The Great Bean Size Debate
Vanilla beans come in a wide range of sizes, from petite 4-inch beans to impressive 7-inch specimens. It's natural to assume that larger beans deliver more flavor, but the reality is more nuanced.
Large Beans: The Pros
- Visual Appeal: Long, plump beans look impressive and feel premium in your hands.
- Easier Handling: Larger beans are simpler to split, scrape, and work with in recipes.
- Perceived Value: Many buyers associate size with quality and are willing to pay more.
- Better for Whole Bean Display: If you're adding beans to decorative bottles, larger beans create more visual impact.
Large Beans: The Cons
- Higher Price Per Bean: You'll often pay a premium for larger beans, even when the actual vanilla content is similar.
- Fewer Beans Per Pound: A pound of large beans might contain only 80-100 beans, limiting your flexibility.
- Not Always More Flavorful: Size doesn't directly correlate with vanillin content or moisture level.
Small Beans: The Pros
- Better Value: Smaller beans are typically less expensive per bean, even when the weight is equivalent.
- More Beans Per Pound: A pound might contain 120-160 smaller beans, giving you more flexibility in recipes and extraction.
- Equally Flavorful: When measured by weight, small beans deliver the same flavor intensity as large beans.
- Perfect for Extraction: Size doesn't matter when beans are submerged in alcohol—it's all about total surface area and weight.
Small Beans: The Cons
- Less Impressive Appearance: They don't have the same visual wow factor as large beans.
- More Tedious to Work With: Splitting and scraping many small beans takes more time than working with fewer large ones.
- Perceived as Lower Quality: Some buyers mistakenly assume smaller beans are inferior.
The Truth About Flavor: It's All About Weight
Here's the critical insight that changes everything: when it comes to vanilla flavor, sweetness, and aromatic compounds, bean size is largely irrelevant. What matters is the total weight of vanilla you're using.
Whether you use five large beans or ten small beans, if they weigh the same amount, they'll deliver virtually identical flavor profiles. The vanillin content, moisture level, and aromatic compounds are distributed throughout the bean, not concentrated based on size.
The Science Behind It
Vanilla beans contain thousands of flavor compounds, with vanillin being the most prominent. These compounds exist throughout the bean's structure—in the seeds, the pod walls, and the oily interior. A 2-gram bean and a 4-gram bean don't have different concentrations of these compounds; the larger bean simply has more total mass containing the same concentration.
When you make extract, you're dissolving these compounds into alcohol. The extraction efficiency depends on:
- Total bean weight (more weight = more compounds)
- Surface area exposed to alcohol
- Time allowed for extraction
- Bean moisture content and quality
Notice that bean length isn't on this list. A 5-inch bean and a 7-inch bean of the same weight will produce equivalent extracts.
Why Buying by Count Is a Mistake
When vendors sell beans by count alone, you have no idea how much actual vanilla you're getting. Consider these scenarios:
- Scenario A: You buy 25 large Madagascar beans weighing 125 grams total (5 grams each)
- Scenario B: You buy 25 small Madagascar beans weighing 75 grams total (3 grams each)
Both packages contain 25 beans, but Scenario A gives you 67% more vanilla! If both packages cost the same, you're getting far less value in Scenario B. Even worse, if Scenario B costs less because the beans are smaller, you might still be paying more per gram of actual vanilla.
The VanillaPura Standard: Always Buy by Weight
This is why at VanillaPura, we always specify the weight of our vanilla beans alongside the count. When you see "1 lb (approximately 100-120 beans)," you know exactly how much vanilla you're getting, regardless of whether you receive 100 larger beans or 120 smaller ones.
How to Calculate What You Need
For vanilla extract, the standard ratio is:
- Single-fold extract: 0.8 oz (23g) of beans per 8 oz of alcohol
- Double-fold extract: 1.6 oz (46g) of beans per 8 oz of alcohol
Notice these measurements are by weight, not by bean count. Whether you use 4 large beans or 8 small beans to reach 23 grams, your extract will have the same strength and flavor.
When Bean Size Does Matter
There are a few situations where bean size makes a practical difference:
- Whole Bean Recipes: If you're infusing cream or making vanilla sugar with whole beans, larger beans are easier to remove.
- Decorative Bottles: For gift bottles where the bean is visible, longer beans create better visual appeal.
- Scraping for Seeds: Larger beans are easier to split and scrape when you need vanilla caviar for recipes.
- Bottle Neck Size: Very large beans may not fit through narrow bottle openings.
But for extract making—which is how most home cooks use the majority of their vanilla—size simply doesn't impact the final product.
Smart Shopping Tips
- Always Check the Weight: Look for listings that specify total weight, not just bean count.
- Calculate Price Per Ounce: Divide the total price by the total weight to compare true value across different listings.
- Don't Pay a Premium for Size: If large beans cost significantly more per ounce than small beans from the same origin and grade, choose the smaller beans.
- Focus on Quality Indicators: Moisture content, origin, grade, and freshness matter far more than length.
- Buy What Works for Your Process: If you're making extract in wide-mouth jars, bean size is irrelevant. If you're using narrow bottles, consider bean length.
The Bottom Line
Large beans and small beans each have their place, but when it comes to maximum flavor in your vanilla extract, weight is the only metric that matters. Two ounces of small beans will give you the exact same flavor, sweetness, and aromatic complexity as two ounces of large beans from the same origin and grade.
By buying vanilla beans by weight rather than by count, you ensure consistent results in every batch of extract you make. You'll know exactly how much vanilla you're getting, you'll be able to accurately compare prices across vendors, and you'll never be surprised by undersized beans that leave your extract weaker than expected.
At VanillaPura, we're committed to transparency and education. We want you to understand not just what you're buying, but why it matters. When you buy by weight, you're buying with confidence—and that's the foundation of exceptional vanilla extract.
