LEMJMcC Posted October 7, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 7, 2021 A couple of cruises ago we stopped in Cozumel, I think, where we bought some Mexican vanilla, again I think. I seem to recall someone telling us, "Oh, you should have bought while you were at...", thing is I don't remember the ending...😖 So, where in the Western Caribbean is supposed to have the best vanilla? Thanks/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CruisinCrow Posted October 7, 2021 #2 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Cozumel, for sure. It's been a few years since our last trip to Mexico so I'm planning to stock up. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph2017China Posted October 7, 2021 #3 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Cozumel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derorim Posted October 7, 2021 #4 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Do you buy vanilla beans or extract? We once bought vanilla beans in Marigot. When standing in the customs line when we returned, the security dog sniffed a lot at my suitcase where I had put it, but thankfully his handler moved him along. I have always wondered if it was prohibited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEMJMcC Posted October 7, 2021 Author #5 Share Posted October 7, 2021 (edited) Cozumel it must have been, perhaps I was thinking of Jamaica... It was the extract. Anyway, thanks. Our Christmas cruise to stopping at Cozumel, so we'll make a point to pick up a few bottles. Edited October 7, 2021 by LEMJMcC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted October 7, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I seem to remember seeing it in Roatan and Grand Cayman. There is a rum cake store in GC, and they had a variety of spices and sauces, plus vanilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted October 7, 2021 #7 Share Posted October 7, 2021 32 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said: A couple of cruises ago we stopped in Cozumel, I think, where we bought some Mexican vanilla, again I think. I seem to recall someone telling us, "Oh, you should have bought while you were at...", thing is I don't remember the ending...😖 So, where in the Western Caribbean is supposed to have the best vanilla? Thanks/ 6 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said: Cozumel it must have been, perhaps I was thinking of Jamaica... It was the extract. Anyway, thanks. Our Christmas cruise to stopping at Cozumel, so we'll make a point to pick up a few bottles. Just read the label carefully, for country of origin and for ingredients. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 7, 2021 #8 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Get yourself some vanilla beans and a cheap bottle of vodka and you'll have all the vanilla you want for a couple years at a fraction of the price. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknmarilyn Posted October 7, 2021 #9 Share Posted October 7, 2021 We always buy in Cozumel and have been very happy with one sold under the Los Cincos Sol brand at their stores. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkie20000 Posted October 7, 2021 #10 Share Posted October 7, 2021 19 minutes ago, chucknmarilyn said: We always buy in Cozumel and have been very happy with one sold under the Los Cincos Sol brand at their stores. This is the one I love as well. You can order it online too if you won't be in Cozumel for awhile. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sellwingri Posted October 7, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Grenada is the best place to purchase vanilla. It’s known as the “spice island”. My parents told me a long time ago that they could smell vanilla from the ship after arriving in Grenada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted October 7, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 7, 2021 The Cinco Soles store just left of the port exit is good for their brand. We actually prefer the vanilla in Grenada, although the bottles there seem to be hand-labeled. Again, some of the shops in the port sell it. More intense flavor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwich Cruiser Posted October 7, 2021 #13 Share Posted October 7, 2021 We always buy ours in Cozumel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVHillbilly Posted October 8, 2021 #14 Share Posted October 8, 2021 3 hours ago, chucknmarilyn said: We always buy in Cozumel and have been very happy with one sold under the Los Cincos Sol brand at their stores. Thats the brand we always buy also. Don't know if it's cheaper there but we usually get ours at the store next to Panchos Backyard at the end of town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted October 8, 2021 #15 Share Posted October 8, 2021 1 minute ago, WVHillbilly said: Thats the brand we always buy also. Don't know if it's cheaper there but we usually get ours at the store next to Panchos Backyard at the end of town. Same here. We usually have a leisurely lunch at Pancho’s and buy the extract on our way out. Lookin forward to our next three margarita lunch at Pacho’s. (Don’t need any vanilla extract) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyalC Posted October 8, 2021 #16 Share Posted October 8, 2021 3 hours ago, sellwingri said: Grenada is the best place to purchase vanilla. It’s known as the “spice island”. My parents told me a long time ago that they could smell vanilla from the ship after arriving in Grenada. This is the answer but many cruises do not go there so many responses will be Cozumel, but Cozumel is very good. Either is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooter6251 Posted October 8, 2021 #17 Share Posted October 8, 2021 5 hours ago, chucknmarilyn said: We always buy in Cozumel and have been very happy with one sold under the Los Cincos Sol brand at their stores. This one is the best. We ordered some on line a year or so ago, but it's better when you buy it in Cozumel 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ticketsunlimited Posted October 8, 2021 #18 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Best Vanilla we ever got was cruising through French Polynesia on the Paul Gauguin. Some of the best Vanilla in the world in Tahaa Bought the beans and extract. I’m heading to the cupboard right now to take a whiff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND Posted October 8, 2021 #19 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Cozumel. It is just a very different taste than vanilla extract you can buy in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ReneeFLL Posted October 8, 2021 #20 Share Posted October 8, 2021 8 hours ago, Merion_Mom said: Just read the label carefully, for country of origin and for ingredients. This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Fart Cruisers Posted October 8, 2021 #21 Share Posted October 8, 2021 This article is nearly 13 years old but I would still use caution especially buying something hand packaged. Since it has not been inspected by the FDA, you can never be sure what you are buying. Some of the bottles are even labeled “does not contain coumarin - no contiene cumarina”, but since there is no government oversight they could put anything on the label. Also I remember reading that some of the stuff with the nicest vanilla aroma contains some of the highest levels of coumarin. I’m sure most of the products sold now are perfectly safe, it’s just that you really can’t be sure. Please do your own research! FDA Warns of Dangers of Mexican Vanilla - ABC News (go.com) FDA Warns of Dangers of Mexican Vanilla By Robert Preidt October 31, 2008, 2:02 PM • 2 min read Nov. 1 -- FRIDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- So-called Mexican "vanilla" is often made with a toxic substance called coumarin and shouldn't be bought by consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned this week. Coumarin is related to warfarin, which is found in some blood thinners. Eating foods with coumarin may be dangerous for people taking blood thinners, because the combination could increase their risk of bleeding. Mexican vanilla -- which may smell and taste like real vanilla and is cheaper than the real thing -- is sold in Mexico and other Latin American countries and has started appearing in some U.S. stores and restaurants, the FDA said. Pure vanilla is made with the extract of beans from the vanilla plant. Mexican vanilla is frequently made with the extract of beans from the tonka tree, an entirely different plant that belongs to the pea family. Tonka bean extract contains coumarin. Since 1954, coumarin has been banned from all food products sold in the United States. Consumers should be cautious when buying vanilla in Mexico and other Latin American countries, the FDA advised. Look for "vanilla bean" on the label's ingredient list. Don't buy the product if it says "tonka bean" or has a vague ingredient list or no list. More information Florida State University has more about coumarin. SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Oct. 29, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinCruise Posted October 8, 2021 #22 Share Posted October 8, 2021 Cozumel is far cheaper than Costa Maya for the same brands. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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