Substitute for vanilla bean

[Camelot Legends]

With the price a vanilla beans, I was wondering if anyone has tried to substitute it with castoreum? Supposedly, it’s cheaper than vanilla beans with a similar flavor and scent.

 

[monkeymath]

I like tonka beans. They don't have the same taste, but it is on a similar spectrum. Price is reasonable.

Beware though: that stuff is potent! I spiked a few bottles of porter with some homemade tonka extract, and it is simply overpowering.

 

[Jag75]

Have you checked Amazon for the beans? Hands down the cheapest I've seen. They were very fresh as well. As much as I use them I couldn't afford to keep getting them from my local store.

 

[Camelot Legends]

Have you checked Amazon for the beans? Hands down the cheapest I've seen. They were very fresh as well. As much as I use them I couldn't afford to keep getting them from my local store.

Wow, the price is cheap. Didn’t think to check there. My local grocery store want over $30 just for 2 beans. Thanks

 

[Qhrumphf]

Ethnic markets are good too. Between mercados, Asian and Middle Eastern markets you can usually get bigger quantities of better quality for a lot less than the spice section of a generic grocery store. Even then, I can get a big bag of of cumin in the Latin section of my grocery store that's 4x the quantity for 1/2 the cost of the spice aisle in the same damned store.

 

[JimRausch]

At a local 'shop for cooks and those that love them' I found a jar of vanilla bean paste. 2 oz. bottle for $16.50, about 1/2 the price of whole vanilla beans around here. Label says 1 tablespoon is equivalent to one vanilla bean.

 

[Camelot Legends]

Ethnic markets are good too. Between mercados, Asian and Middle Eastern markets you can usually get bigger quantities of better quality for a lot less than the spice section of a generic grocery store. Even then, I can get a big bag of of cumin in the Latin section of my grocery store that's 4x the quantity for 1/2 the cost of the spice aisle in the same damned store.

Thank you for this suggestion. I live a couple towns outside a city where there are a much of ethnic markets.