"Vanilla is our YUM!" Those four words were coined by Starlette, one of the most beloved extract makers in our Facebook group, Making Vanilla Extract by VanillaPura. With over 146,000 members from around the world sharing tips, triumphs, and the occasional extract fail — we are a community united by one sweet mission: making the world sweeter, one vanilla bean at a time. Every summer, we ask our group members to vote on their favorite vanilla beans of the past year. The top 5 vote-getters are blended together into what we call The YUM! Blend — a one-of-a-kind, community-curated masterpiece that changes every year and is never available again once it's gone. This year's blend is something truly special. 🫙 Introducing the Isabela Jar Our group members love a beautiful extract jar almost as much as they love vanilla. So we asked them to vote on 5 new jar designs — and we're thrilled to release their #1 pick alongside this year's blend. Meet The Isabela, named after the stunning island in the Galápagos of Ecuador. When you order the Isabela jar with a pouch of YUM! Blend beans, you'll receive a FREE 2026 YUM! extract jar label — the perfect finishing touch for your extract. 🌿 The 2026 YUM! Blend — Voted on by Our Members 1. Madagascar Planifolia The gold standard of vanilla. Madagascar beans deliver a classic, buttery, creamy vanilla flavor that is rich, deep, and unmistakably familiar — like grandma's homemade ice cream or a fresh-baked vanilla cupcake. Plump, oily, and full of vanillin, these beans are the backbone of any great extract. 2. Hawaiian Planifolia Grown in the volcanic soils of Hawaii, these beans bring a lusciously sweet, floral, and tropical character to the blend. Expect aromatic notes of mango, guava, and papaya with a subtle cocoa undertone — a bright, summery counterpoint that makes this blend truly unique. 3. Ugandan Bold and earthy with a higher-than-average vanillin content, Ugandan beans add depth and complexity. Their flavor profile features hints of figs and raisins layered over rich, buttery vanilla — evoking warm cinnamon rolls, banana bread, and fruit-forward baking. 4. Mexican Veracruz From the birthplace of vanilla itself, these beans bring a smoky, spicy complexity unlike any other origin. Notes of cinnamon, clove, raisin, mocha, caramel, and toffee give this bean a bold, sophisticated character that shines in extracts, liqueurs, and savory applications alike. 5. Tanzanian Sourced from the East African "Bean Belt" between Uganda and Madagascar, Tanzanian beans offer a rich, buttery vanilla with subtle woody and cacao undertones. Their unique terroir gives them a distinct creaminess and smooth finish that rounds out this blend beautifully. 🥃 Perfect for Extract Making This blend is exceptional with Cognac, Bourbon, Vodka, Tequila, Rum, and Brandy. Whether you prefer light spirits (age up to 1 year) or dark spirits (age 18 months to 2 years for the richest flavor), the YUM! Blend will reward your patience with an extract that is absolutely extraordinary. This blend is available one time only and will NEVER be offered again — it changes every year. Don't miss your chance to be part of this year's YUM! moment. Happy Extract Making! 🍦
Related
Related
Related
Related