Let me show you how to get those deliciously fragrant vanilla beans out of their pod. Whenever possible, I opt for the fresh whole vanilla beans over the extracts. A vanilla bean can cost anywhere from $1.50 and up, but the flavor it adds is priceless yumminess. Remember to keep the remaining â??barkâ?? to blend into your smoothies with your high-speed blender. I like to store the bark in my glass jars with my nuts and seeds. Vanilla beans come from different regions. My favorites are Bourbon beans from Madagascar, Indonesia (rich taste and smell, creamy and sweet) and Tahitian beans from Tahiti (aroma is fruity and floral). Beans from the same plant stock grown in Mexico are called Mexican beans, and have a more mellow woody fragrance. www.aniphyo.com