I researched and thought about growing my own because of the cost. No go here in frosty Vic of course as it’s a tropical plant.
I could stick some beans into vodka and leave to steep for 3 years, but I reckon I’d raid it too early and I’m not sure of the origin of the beans sold here.

So, could you who live up there in that misty melting heat who grow things organically, consider growing it ?

I’d buy some!

Happy Potter said:

I researched and thought about growing my own because of the cost. No go here in frosty Vic of course as it’s a tropical plant.
I could stick some beans into vodka and leave to steep for 3 years, but I reckon I’d raid it too early and I’m not sure of the origin of the beans sold here.

So, could you who live up there in that misty melting heat who grow things organically, consider growing it ?

I’d buy some!

Hi HP! I have done my research on vanilla beans and I ain’t taking it on ….ever. Do you know how high they grow? Do you know how long they take to flower? It’s a specialised cultivation and I’m pretty sure they are worth every penny we have to pay for them. It’s hard I know.

and I suspect even Qld is not tropical enough! I believe they are equatorial plants?

pomolo said:

Happy Potter said:

I researched and thought about growing my own because of the cost. No go here in frosty Vic of course as it’s a tropical plant.
I could stick some beans into vodka and leave to steep for 3 years, but I reckon I’d raid it too early and I’m not sure of the origin of the beans sold here.

So, could you who live up there in that misty melting heat who grow things organically, consider growing it ?

I’d buy some!

Hi HP! I have done my research on vanilla beans and I ain’t taking it on ….ever. Do you know how high they grow? Do you know how long they take to flower? It’s a specialised cultivation and I’m pretty sure they are worth every penny we have to pay for them. It’s hard I know.

Hi Pomolo, welcome back :)

Oooh ok. I watched Leonie Norringtons segment on GA and she is growing the vanilla orchid vine horizontally on a trellis which didn’t look more than a couple meters high.

Isn’t Leonie Norrington, the NT rep for GA?

Sounds a good idea, the espalier…

Will have to Gooooooooogle it and see but we all know my dismal rep for gardening…

Is this any good?

order in quantity online – might be cheaper. Buy bulk and split with friends?

they say…

Vanilla Plantations of Australia Pty Ltd said:

Today, vanilla beans grows within 20 degrees north and south of the Equator in the tropical regions of the world.

Madagascar and Indonesia grow the majority of the world’s vanilla beans. Other countries around the Pacific rim which grow and supply vanilla to the world include Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Philippines, Fiji, Tonga, India, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

They take months to cure once picked to bring out the full flavour.

Dinetta said:

Is this any good?

snap! (again!)

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Is this any good?

snap! (again!)

Great minds, BlueGreen, great minds… :D

Dinetta said:

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Is this any good?

snap! (again!)

Great minds, BlueGreen, great minds… :D

maybe been hanging around each other too long? lol!

I’m pretty sure it’s been 8 years, BlueGreen, but I might be wrong…

Happy Potter said:

I researched and thought about growing my own because of the cost. No go here in frosty Vic of course as it’s a tropical plant.
I could stick some beans into vodka and leave to steep for 3 years, but I reckon I’d raid it too early and I’m not sure of the origin of the beans sold here.
So, could you who live up there in that misty melting heat who grow things organically, consider growing it ?
I’d buy some!

interesting idea actually. get some bartering going
…what was the vodka for…?

bluegreen said:

order in quantity online – might be cheaper. Buy bulk and split with friends?

they say…

Vanilla Plantations of Australia Pty Ltd said:

Today, vanilla beans grows within 20 degrees north and south of the Equator in the tropical regions of the world.

Madagascar and Indonesia grow the majority of the world’s vanilla beans. Other countries around the Pacific rim which grow and supply vanilla to the world include Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Philippines, Fiji, Tonga, India, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

They take months to cure once picked to bring out the full flavour.

Ok. I think I’ll go sit back down and put some pennies into the ‘vanilla paste fund’ jar LOL

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

order in quantity online – might be cheaper. Buy bulk and split with friends? they say…

Vanilla Plantations of Australia Pty Ltd said:

Today, vanilla beans grows within 20 degrees north and south of the Equator in the tropical regions of the world.

Madagascar and Indonesia grow the majority of the world’s vanilla beans. Other countries around the Pacific rim which grow and supply vanilla to the world include Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Philippines, Fiji, Tonga, India, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

They take months to cure once picked to bring out the full flavour.

Ok. I think I’ll go sit back down and put some pennies into the ‘vanilla paste fund’ jar LOL

or get longy to be our courier from PNG.

I have seen Vanilla grown at the grass roots level in PNG and it’s an impressive sight. I reckon’ if you can grow it in Rigo, then I’m a fair chance here in Townsville, although I saw a great Vanilla Orchid in Lae, and that is the home to 4metre annual rainfall…. Hmmm?

GF wants to try.

Madagascar bean as vanilla bean

Scroll right down to the bottom and why Happy Potter wants to use vodka to soak the bean, is explained…

Dinetta said:

Madagascar bean as vanilla bean

Scroll right down to the bottom and why Happy Potter wants to use vodka to soak the bean, is explained…

The link is broken but if you put that into a search it’ll come up.

Confusing tho..madagascar beans can be a range of beans depending on where yu are and who you are. And yes, the vodka is used to soak the beans in. I think it’s because vodka is the most flavourless clear spirit. I’ve never tried it so I don’t know the process other than it takes years.

That site is good BG :) Once I get another couple cooks with me, I’d like to order a bottle of the extract.

Goodonya PM’s GF, have a grow :D

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

Madagascar bean as vanilla bean

Scroll right down to the bottom and why Happy Potter wants to use vodka to soak the bean, is explained…

The link is broken but if you put that into a search it’ll come up.

Confusing tho..madagascar beans can be a range of beans depending on where yu are and who you are. And yes, the vodka is used to soak the beans in. I think it’s because vodka is the most flavourless clear spirit. I’ve never tried it so I don’t know the process other than it takes years.

That site is good BG :) Once I get another couple cooks with me, I’d like to order a bottle of the extract.

Goodonya PM’s GF, have a grow :D

This be mine.

http://greenharvest.com.au/seeds/info_sheet/Madagascar_bean.html

“ Liquid vanilla extract can also be made quite easily by soaking the pods in ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, for a period of time, then straining the liquid.”

Did you see that bit on the http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-madagascar-beans.htm website, Happy Potter?

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

Dinetta said:

“ Liquid vanilla extract can also be made quite easily by soaking the pods in ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, for a period of time, then straining the liquid.”

Did you see that bit on the http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-madagascar-beans.htm website, Happy Potter?

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

Yes I saw that , thanks :)
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol is pure alcohol, a colourless spirit

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

“ Liquid vanilla extract can also be made quite easily by soaking the pods in ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, for a period of time, then straining the liquid.”

Did you see that bit on the http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-madagascar-beans.htm website, Happy Potter?

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

Yes I saw that , thanks :)
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol is pure alcohol, a colourless spirit

Whoah! So vodka is one of the strongest alcohols there is? and here’s me thinking that was rum…or maybe even Dom Benedictine…the vanilla beans would come up a treat if soaked in the latter, don’t you think? lol

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

“ Liquid vanilla extract can also be made quite easily by soaking the pods in ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, for a period of time, then straining the liquid.”

Did you see that bit on the http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-madagascar-beans.htm website, Happy Potter?

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

Yes I saw that , thanks :)
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol is pure alcohol, a colourless spirit

Whoah! So vodka is one of the strongest alcohols there is? and here’s me thinking that was rum…or maybe even Dom Benedictine…the vanilla beans would come up a treat if soaked in the latter, don’t you think? lol

It’s not the strongest but vodka is the most flavourless and won’t overpower the vanilla scent. You could use anything provided it’s high in alcohol volume. Think vanilla rum cake, MMMM!

Dinetta said:

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

NO! Metho or methyl alcohol is poisonous! Ethyl alcohol is the drinking kind. Most alcoholic drinks only contain a percentage of alcohol plus flavourings. Vodka is usually pure alcohol.

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

NO! Metho or methyl alcohol is poisonous! Ethyl alcohol is the drinking kind. Most alcoholic drinks only contain a percentage of alcohol plus flavourings. Vodka is usually pure alcohol.

Gasp!!!!!! No, no. no. There’d be a lot more dead drunks. They add distilled water before bottling and the percentage varies between brands.

bubba louie said:

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Not sure just what ethyl alcohol is, wondering if it’s a kind of methylated spirits?

NO! Metho or methyl alcohol is poisonous! Ethyl alcohol is the drinking kind. Most alcoholic drinks only contain a percentage of alcohol plus flavourings. Vodka is usually pure alcohol.

Gasp!!!!!! No, no. no. There’d be a lot more dead drunks. They add distilled water before bottling and the percentage varies between brands.

I think afterwards that it wouldn’t be 100% (or is that 200%?) alcohol, but what I was trying to get at is that there is no flavour.

bluegreen said:

bubba louie said:

bluegreen said:

NO! Metho or methyl alcohol is poisonous! Ethyl alcohol is the drinking kind. Most alcoholic drinks only contain a percentage of alcohol plus flavourings. Vodka is usually pure alcohol.

Gasp!!!!!! No, no. no. There’d be a lot more dead drunks. They add distilled water before bottling and the percentage varies between brands.

I think afterwards that it wouldn’t be 100% (or is that 200%?) alcohol, but what I was trying to get at is that there is no flavour.

I think vodka is about 40% vol alcohol.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

bubba louie said:

Gasp!!!!!! No, no. no. There’d be a lot more dead drunks. They add distilled water before bottling and the percentage varies between brands.

I think afterwards that it wouldn’t be 100% (or is that 200%?) alcohol, but what I was trying to get at is that there is no flavour.

I think vodka is about 40% vol alcohol.

We used to have friends at Bundy. When the distillery sold off their old wooden barrels they bought some and left them in the sun to sweat. The resulting couple flagons nearly blew our heads off.

It had probably been in the wood since the year dot and if you rubbed it on your skin it just went cold.

bubba louie said:

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

I think afterwards that it wouldn’t be 100% (or is that 200%?) alcohol, but what I was trying to get at is that there is no flavour.

I think vodka is about 40% vol alcohol.

We used to have friends at Bundy. When the distillery sold off their old wooden barrels they bought some and left them in the sun to sweat. The resulting couple flagons nearly blew our heads off.

It had probably been in the wood since the year dot and if you rubbed it on your skin it just went cold.

It was that good, hey? Goold ol Bundy…