Just found proper Sunkist western lemons , 269 for 5lbs
Does Costco have liquid vanilla extract (price)? I want to make custard pudding:
Youtube recipe
Vanilla extract is added at 39s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmgdnn7iae4
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this bottle on the shelf at the Guandu Costco. $1,119.
https://www.costco.com.tw/Food/Pantry-Dry-Goods/Baking-Flour/Pure-Vanilla-Extract-473ML/p/1072687
Just bought that liquid vanilla extract at Neihu Costco on Friday night. I don’t have the receipt in front of me but it was around 980-1080NT if I remember correctly. Usually in-store price is about 50-100NT less than the website price. 473ml
In Taiwan it is used more frequently to make fake whisky.
That is an insane amount to pay for vanilla extract! Go to any baking supply store in Taiwan and pick it up for far less!
Nope, vanilla plants are dying like crazy because there’s nothing wrong with the planet and climate change isn’t happening.
The cost of (real) vanilla has basically doubled in the past 2 or 3 years because they’re orchids and they’re not able to grow as well as they used to. If you ever watch a video on how vanilla is harvested, you will wonder why it doesn’t cost about 100x more than it does…
It’s a huge bottle, too.
Interesting article
The Red Diamond vanilla extract I bought at a nearby baking supply store was NT$100 for 113mL. Costco is around NT$1000 for 473mL. So yeah, unless I’m messing up the math, the Costco stuff is about twice as expensive.
I believe the Red Diamond vanilla sometimes sells for higher prices at the chain supermarkets, but I don’t think it’s double.
Actual vanilla extract is expensive. Are you sure this stuff is the real deal?
On occasion Costco Taiwan also sells a couple dried orchids in a tube, and iirc it’s also very expensive.
Interesting, it is apparently made in Taiwan, from water, alcohol, and “natural flavoring”
I wonder if the ingredients are of similar quality, or why there has not been any price increase.
I’ve used it in the past, seems fine, and been around forever. That being said, it’s probably made from rat guts steeped in battery acid or something.
No idea. The English says “Pure Vanilla Extract”, just like the Costco bottle does. Tastes fine to me, but it may be the only vanilla I’ve ever used, so I’m probably not much of a judge. If I were making something where vanilla’s the main flavor I may look into buying the pods, but most of my vanilla goes for things like pancakes or French toast or smoothies or granola, where vanilla’s just one ingredient among many.
@Dragonbones may be the one to ask!
I’ve always been suspicious of that one, but I don’t recall why. I’ve only ever used good quality Mexican vanilla, and Costco’s, plus vanilla pods to steep in hot liquid for making real vanilla ice cream. I can’t claim any expertise, but I don’t trust made in Taiwan stuff when it comes to olive oil and vanilla. (Nothing against Taiwan btw.) I’ve never done a side to side test. Vanilla prices went through the roof the last few years, so if their price did not go up (quadruple or more, then something’s definitely VERY fishy. A big bottle at Costco was well over a thousand, last I checked.
It’s hard to believe the Red Diamond vanilla extract in Taiwan is pure at such a cheap price. 4 fluid ounces for $80nt! The company says the raw ingredients come from the USA.
I’ve heard from professional bakers that you really can’t taste the difference between pure and immitation vanilla in “baked” goods. Frostings and unbaked things, you can.
Anyways, found an interesting article about domestically grown vanilla here in Taiwan.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/09/28/2003723052
I have a small French vainilla extract bottle one from a local baking store and it was middle of the road: 300 to 400 NTD. So maybe one can look around for not shady/too fancy options. Vainilla pods are also available but yeah, expensive.
The last bottle of real vanilla I had in the states was small, probably 120ml. I bought it in 2010 (?) at a Whole Foods for like US$16. I didn’t use it a lot, but I’d had it for years when I threw the last ounce out before moving here.
I grew up with fake vanilla as a kid, and never felt like I suffered for it. Around 1990 I had a pear poached in vanilla, with vanilla ice cream, at a Mexican resort hotel. Never used the fake stuff since.
A pint of real vanilla would last me a decade, I reckon.
It’s like balsamic vinegar. If you read the ingredients and it has caramel or coloring, even natural, it’s a no no. Pure stuff won’t be dirt cheap but there is good stuff that does not cost and arm, a leg and an eye.
These spots are legally required. But the ones at Costco or in other supermarkets are considered private property, so the police can’t do anything unless the company files a complaint. So the best we can do is to shame these drivers here on Forumosa…
REALLY
Hmm