Have you heard about vanilla? For all those that have yet to hear the disastrous news, the price is due to shoot up. Doubling in price, vanilla could no longer feature as a staple on restaurant menus or be as affordable when purchasing from ice cream shops across the country. Vanilla instead will become a luxury, a sweet treat for those wanting to splurge and indulge themselves.
A classic flavour, what has happened for the value to double? Grown in Madagascar, Mexico and Tahiti, each bean has a different flavour and strength. Many connoisseurs view the bean grown in Madagascar to be the best flavour and is the most desirable from all three countries.
Why the rise in vanilla price?
The condition and shaky future that we are seeing now is a result to a typhoon that hit the African country early in 2017. This typhoon destroyed a substantial amount of crops, effecting the year’s harvest. With vanilla from Madagascar in ration, the prices of each kilo of beans have doubled in price. Selling for $500- $600 a kilo, vanilla has become more expensive than silver which now sells at around $526 per kilo.
With another year of high prices surrounding quality beans, for all those wanting to treat themselves to some ice cream to cool them down this summer, how about making your own? By churning and freezing your own ice cream, you can treat yourself to delicious homemade ice cream whenever the mood strikes. We have put together a delicious and easy to follow vanilla recipe, allowing you to enjoy the same luxuries that you did before the typhoon, but without the large price tag.
Prep time: 2 hours
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 vanilla pods
500ml of double cream
70g of sugar
3 egg yolks
Method:
Start by halving the two vanilla pods. To do this, cut the pods length ways and scrape out the seeds. In a saucepan, add the pods to the cream and bring the pan to the boil before adding in the sugar and stirring until it has also dissolved.
While you are waiting for the sugar to dissolve, in a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs yolks before slowly whisking the egg into the hot cream mixture.
When the ingredients have all mixed together, pour the mixture through a sieve into a large mixing bowl before adding the vanilla seeds and giving a thorough mix. Pour the mixture then into your Chef’n ice maker and serve.