What is a moist vanilla bean?
I'm trying to make a vanilla syrup for some flavored coffees, and the recipe I have calls for:
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 moist vanilla bean, preferably Mexican or Bourbon (Madagascar)
What does it mean by a moist vanilla bean? Do I soak the bean in water or something before use?
Best Answer
This is not a precise term, you cannot go and buy "moist" and "dry" vanilla beans. But the pods can be prepared to different degrees of dryness, similar to prunes. And the ones with more remaining moisture have more taste and are generally higher quality. This is why they specify it. If you only have access to dry pods, I will still try out the recipe with them, just change the source for the next buy.
Regarding the comment above, I have never had vanilla beans with a grade denoted on the packaging. But I have had both moist and dry ones, so it isn't a case of only one grade being marketed to end users. It is surely better if you can distinguish them based on some kind of grading, but chances are, you won't know what grade you are buying.
Pictures about "What is a moist vanilla bean?"
What type of vanilla bean is best for extract?
Which Vanilla Beans are Best for Making Vanilla Extract? Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans are the most popular and what I use by far the most. Another option is Tahitian vanilla beans. A third option is Mexican vanilla beans.What are the different types of vanilla beans?
There are three main species of vanilla that are produced commercially. These include vanilla planifolia, vanilla tahitiensis, and vanilla pompona. Each species has unique characteristics.What is the best grade of vanilla bean?
Grade A Vanilla Beans It has the most concentrated taste out of the two different grades and is considered to be purer. Professional chefs tend to prefer the Grade A vanilla bean when cooking.How do you moisten a vanilla bean?
To rehydrate, put the whole vanilla bean pods in a pie dish or other bowl. Add the water so it covers the beans and let it sit about 10 minutes or until the pods soften. You also can add vanilla beans to warm milk, cream or half-and-half to soften them.Madagascar, Mexican, French vanilla? Tasting 5 types of vanilla beans
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Nikita Krasnov, Brendan Rühli, Pratik Gupta, Bithin raj