Vanilla 101
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.
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
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?
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.
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.
Can You Use Flavored Spirits to Make Vanilla Extract? The Truth About Flavored Vodkas, Rums & More
Strawberry vodka + vanilla beans sounds amazing. But most flavored spirits use artificial flavoring that turns metallic over months of infusion. Learn which spirits actually work — and the right way to make flavored vanilla extract using real freeze-dried fruit and cacao nibs.
Madagascar vs. Tanzania: What's the Difference Between Two V.planifolia Vanilla Beans?
Both Madagascar and Tanzania grow V.planifolia vanilla — but terroir makes all the difference. Discover how these two origins compare in flavor, complexity, and best uses for extract making and baking.
Using Vanilla Beans from Different Spirits in Your First Mother Jar
Can you use vanilla beans from different spirit extracts in your mother jar? Yes — and it's encouraged. Learn how to blend beans safely for a one-of-a-kind extract.
Blending Spirits for Vanilla Extract: What You Need to Know
Can you blend spirits when making vanilla extract? Yes — but there are important things to know about ABV, flavor dominance, and blending within spirit families.
Ecuador Colorado vs. Papua New Guinea Kerema: A Tale of Two V.tahitensis Vanilla Beans
They share the same species name — Vanilla tahitensis — but grow worlds apart, shaped by entirely different soils, climates, and curing traditions. The Ecuadorian Colorado and the Papua New...
Veracruz vs. Popondetta: A V.planifolia Vanilla Bean Comparison
Both the Veracruz Mexican and Popondetta Papua New Guinea vanilla beans share the same V.planifolia species, but their terroir, flavor, and aroma tell very different stories. Here's a deep-dive comparison to help you choose — or use both.
Lucky 7: The Best Vanilla Beans to Pair with Irish Whiskey for St. Patrick's Day Extract
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a "Lucky 7" Irish Whiskey vanilla extract. Discover the 7 best vanilla beans from around the world that pair beautifully with the smooth, malty notes of Irish whiskey.
