Vanilla Bean (1 X Niue)

Vanilla tahitensis

$11

Premium grade, large Niue "A" grade vanilla beans, avg wt.per bean 4.5g This Tahitensis vanilla variety is renown for it's enticing fragrance, aroma and flavor.

Vanilla beans appear expensive, but they add a complexity of flavor, a mix of sweet, floral, earthy, and spicy, that blows vanilla extract away.

Vanilla is made by drying and curing the green, tasteless pod from a tropical, climbing orchid that is indigenous to South America. The curing process takes up to 3 months and by the time it is completed, a Vanilla Bean may have been handled from between 200 to 250 times! 

Herbie's Spices Vanilla Beans are moist, succulent, aromatic and full-flavored.  Niue beans are full of little black seeds that are so unique as a flavoring and decoration on icing whipped cream, pavlova, custard or anything that calls for the use of vanilla.


Recipes

Ice Cream with Vanilla Bean & Scotch


Food Ideas

  • Save the skin once you've used the seeds, use the pod to make vanilla sugar. Simply place the pod in a jar with 2 cups of sugar and let sit for a week or so to infuse with flavor.
  • Add a whole Vanilla Bean to fruit during stewing, or slit the bean open and scrape out the millions of sticky seeds within and blend through ice-cream, unflavored yogurt or rich, thick cream.
  • Fold a fresh bean in half, place in the air vent in your car and it will smell lovely for weeks on end.

Other Common Names:

  • Vanilla Bean
  • Vanilla Pod
  • Botanical Name:* (Vanilla tahitensis)* 

Health Benefits:

Vanillin is one of the chief chemical components in vanilla bean that give it its distinctive aroma. These distinct aromas are thought to elevate the mood, but can also create soothing and relaxing sensations, and calm restlessness, and anger. Ancient Mayans believed vanilla to be an aphrodisiac. Vanillin is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals that cause wear and tear on the tissues and cells. Antioxidants help to neutralize carcinogens, may soothe inflammation, and slow the aging process. Vanilla may also help to regulate menstrual cycles and is considered highly beneficial for women.


Note:

Commercially available Vanilla extract is not the same as artificial vanilla flavor, which is made with a chemical extracted from coal tar and wood.

Botanical Name Vanilla tahitensis
Common Names Vanilla Bean; Vanilla Pod
Flavor moist, succulent, aromatic and full-flavoured
Contains Vanilla
Application Add a whole Vanilla Bean to fruit during stewing, or slit the bean open and scrape out the millions of sticky seeds within and blend through ice-cream, unflavoured yoghurt or rich, thick cream.