Shopping for vanilla

[sara mom]

Last time we were in Cozumel, I remember shopping for vanilla (without coumarin). Can anyone give me recommendations/suggestions on where to get it? I'm pretty sure that most tourists shops will have it, but I need to get about 10 quart bottles (Christmas presents!). Yes we are driving so I don't have to worry about getting them on a plane).

Thanks!

[RubyOnTheWater]

I think I heard there is a super market on the island where you can buy it the cheapest. We plan on buying some as gifts too!

[rockbock]

Most people recommend Los Cincos Soles because the vanilla is apparently exceptionally good; however, it is more than double the price of the other port shops. I think you can get quarts of vanilla for as cheap as about $6 per quart if you avoid the tourist shops at the port, but unless you are renting a car already and want to search for a store, it will cost you less to buy it at the port than it will to get a taxi to the shops to buy it.

I paid $7 at the port for 33.2 ounce containers of a vanilla called Totonac's (and no, it does not contain cumarin). It is amazingly good. I can't compare to it Los Cincos Soles, since I haven't tried that brand; however, since this is less than half the price and tastes/smells great, I would never consider paying for the other brand.