This just in: a friend from Villahermosa contacted me to let me know that tomorrow, at the Slow Food market, her daughter will be selling vanilla; the beans that is.
So all you bakers and good folks who like your vanilla, go and get some at the Slow Food market!
Cheers!
To make vanilla for cooking – put the beans in a small bottle of Absolute Vodka until it turns a nice brown color and tastes like vanilla. It will be the best vanilla you have ever tasted!
How many beans/pods in a 750 ml bottle do you recommend? This sounds like it will be perfect for Christmas!
We use the bottle that is about 6 inches tall and put 6 whole beans in the vodka and close the bottle. Let it stand until it turns a nice dark amber color and smells like vanilla and it is ready to go. The longer it stands, the better it gets.
You can also get vanilla beans (and many other wonderful things) at Alma Mexicana Folk Art, Calle 54 No. 476 x 55 y 57 Centro. http://www.folkart-mexico.com