Spices: Tahitian Vanilla

If you are like me, you thought there was only one variety of vanilla, you know, the kind they make the extract from and that was basically it. Well, my friend, we were very wrong. There are a million kinds of vanilla! (Well, million is a bit much, but there is a lot! just look at this website: http://www.beanilla.com/vanilla-beans-c-1.html)

The normal everyday vanilla we use is typically Madagascar vanilla. Well, in research for a special recipe(more on this once he perfects it), my husband ran across this ingredient- Tahitian Vanilla. We ordered some to see what the difference was. It is definitely more smokey than Madagscar Vanilla, the vanilla is more delicate and the scent is a bit floral. It's good with sweet things, but because of the smokiness, it is also good with meats and savory dishes. Now a word of caution- a little goes a LONG way so don't use too much of it. We have been grinding the whole pod- which is really great for that smokey flavor, if you don't want that much of it, you could just take the seeds out and use those. This stuff is extremely fragrant, it fills the room for hours after we've ground it. All in all, it's a nice spice to add to your pantry. Something that comes in handy if you are looking for a little variety in your food. I hope you enjoy it as much as we are!