Whole Vanilla Bean/pods, raw?

[lissomllama]

I always buy my whole vanilla beans/pods from this guy at Renaissance Faire but I always forget to ask him if they are raw. So my question is: In general, are Vanilla Beans/pods raw and if so are they still dried with a dehydrator or something at a low temperature?

[rawpriestess]

You would really have to ask whoever is selling them, as there is no way to know how they are dehydrated.

I buy mine from a friend in Puebla Mexico, who ships them up to me, they are the Burbon ones, super aromatic, and delicious. they are all sun dried, 100% raw, organic, and wonderful.

[lissomllama]

Yeah, I just meant in general. I just found some great madagascar bourbons that I'm going to buy. It says they're sundried and organic so I'm good! I think it's fairly easy to get organic vanilla beans. Thanks, RP.

[scott]

I read that all vanilla beans, even sun-dried "raw" are blanched right after harvest, so I am not 100% sure about "raw" vanilla beans, so I just don't use them anymore. Definitely vanilla extract, even organic, is not raw - I know alot of people use it but I wouldn't get near the stuff.
RP may know someone closely enough who grows vanilla bean, so that she can trust him and the steps he takes to ensure 100% that it's raw and that's great. If I could find someone like that I would use him also. I just learned to do without, just like with so many other things in life in general, no big deal.
I can find that website if you need it.

Scott

[lissomllama]

Wow, thanks for letting me know. I was just getting all excited about being able to use vanilla beans. Oh well. I'm sure I'll find raw ones around somewhere, sometime. Thanks for the info, scott.