At a cooking shop in Birmingham, Elizabeth bought a small, wax-sealed bottle of “Perpetual Vanilla” that held three Madagascar vanilla beans.
To make your own vanilla extract, you break the seal, take out the vanilla beans and slice them lengthwise. You then put the beans back into the bottle and fill the bottle with either vodka or light rum.
After letting the vanilla sit for a month or so, it’s ready. Each time you use it, you’re supposed to refill the bottle with vodka or rum so that the beans are always covered. Simple enough. I started ours today (rum) and will report back in February on the results.
The bottle we bought came from Hartley’s Herbs, a bulk herb supplier in Georgia that also sells other perpetual extracts. For those interested in making your own, it holds a little more than 2/3 cup of liquid for the three vanilla beans.
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what shop ?
The Cook’s Store? Is that the name of the place in MB Village?
Hartley’s Herbs prices for the Vanilla Beans are a little steep! 3 Beans there would be $9.00 and to be honest, 3 Beans are not enough for extract. Try this recipe: http://www.beanilla.com/vanilla-extract-a-2.html
http://www.beanilla.com has 3 Madagascar Beans for $4.60 total.
Thanks Laura. Though 6 vanilla beans for 2 cups (as you call for) is actually less vanilla bean than the 3 beans for 2/3 cups the perpetual vanilla uses.
The vanilla is not to be used up and not refilled. You keep the bottle filled at all times and you will get between 3 and 6 years of use out of it resulting in many, many ounces of pure vanilla extract. We have been making this product for over 10 years and have thousands of happy vanilla users. Perpetual Vanilla is also licensed and trademarked. Also the picture on this page is directly from our website. Thanks, Steve, Hartley’s Herbs
Thanks Steve. I’m enjoying my Perpetual Vanilla. Used it for the first time last week, so count me among the thousands of happy vanilla users. Would you like us to take the picture down. (You’ll notice the link to your website in the post.) Cheers.
This is lovely stuff. I find myself baking more frequently than before just for an excuse to use it!
Chip, Thanks for letting me explain this. We have sold thousands and thousands of these over the years and I can’t remember no one not being happy with it. Have had several people tell me stories where they have had vanilla extract passed down from generation to generation. Also we have new pictures on site . Thanks Steve Hartley;s Herbs
Due to recent efforts of companies trying to copy and use Perpetual Vanilla as there own. Perpetual Vanilla is a registered trademark and is solely owned by Steve and Connie Hartley of Hartley’s Herbs, Cleveland Georgia. http://www.hartleysherbs.com
I have been using my Perpetual Vanilla, purchased at a national park gift shop in 2002, for almost 8 years now. Every year or so I put in a new vanilla bean split in half, and have always used good-quality vodka. I don’t know if it needs a new bean or not, but I figure there is no harm. I never take out the old beans.
I LOVE it. It makes baking more unique for me, and I get so annoyed when I am out of vodka and have to occasionally use store-bought extract.
All of my guests ask what the bottle next to my oven is (I keep it out – it’s so pretty!) and compliment it.
I came upon this site trying to figure out where I could buy a few as hostess gifts (I forgot the trademarked name, but it is certainly descriptive and perfect!). I will be buying them from hartleysherbs.com soon!
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