Vanilla beans are precious, but never too precious to use.  It is important to use your vanilla beans while they are fresh and supple to maximize the amount of seeds you can harvest from the pod and delicious aroma and flavour you can extract.

How to open a vanilla bean

Vanilla beans are precious, but never too precious to use.  It is important to use your vanilla beans while they are fresh and supple to maximize the amount of seeds you can harvest from the pod and delicious aroma and flavour you can extract.

The vanilla bean is made up of two key parts. The first is the dark thin leather-like shell called the pod. The pod holds a remarkable amount of vanilla resin and oils and therefore flavour and aroma. Inside the pod are the vanilla bean seeds which are held together with a thick black syrupy resin, this is where majority of the vanilla beans flavour comes from.
Open your vanilla bean by carefully slicing down the bean lengthwise. Split open, revealing the thousands of seeds, and with the back of your knife, scrape all the vanilla bean seeds from the pod. It is so easy. Remember to never throw away the pod as it can still be used to infuse flavour and aroma.

We have dreamed up 3 uses for a vanilla bean that will see you really making the most of this spectacular spice.

Vanilla bean seed uses

Remember that 1 vanilla pod is the equivalent to 1 teaspoon of Heilala Pure Vanilla Extract or Pure Vanilla Paste. Use the seeds in any recipe that calls for vanilla essence, paste, extract or flavor.

Use your seeds in any of these delicious baking recipes

1. Vanilla Cinnamon Rolls
2. Vanilla Meringue Kisses
3. Triple Vanilla Shortbread

Make the most of the Vanilla Bean Pod with these ideas

1. Vanilla Bean Sugar. Blitz your dried vanilla pod in a blender and mix through your choice of sugar.

2. Make Vanilla Bean Salt. Dry out your vanilla pod and blitz it in a food process or in a mortar and pestle. Combine your crushed pod in a jar with the best quality vanilla salt.

3. Vanilla Body Scrub. In a high powdered blender, blitz your dried vanilla pod until it is a powder. Add coarse sugar and pulse a few times to combine. Pour vanilla sugar mixture into a container and add a drizzle of your favourite body oil until a sandy paste is formed. Use this to exfoliate your skin and enjoy the real vanilla aroma.

Beyond Baking uses for Vanilla Pods

We have been blown away by the innovative ways our vanilla-loving community have used vanilla beans. Becky from Goodbye is one of those innovators that has utilized vanilla beans by infusing them in the highest quality jojoba to extract the aroma and goodness. Just launched is their Vanilla Balm for lip and skin, made with Heilala Vanilla beans along with only natural ingredients soothe and nurture your skin.