Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, 8 Ounce

Top positive review

BONUS FEATURE: alerted me to COVID!

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020

I’ve used this wonderful vanilla several times for tapioca pudding and always enjoyed the aroma while making it. Earlier this week I made a batch, and suddenly realized I could no longer smell the vanilla, either in the pudding or in the bottle. The scent smelled like nothing, or just faintly like alcohol. In desperation I ran to the spice cabinet for another bottle of vanilla from a different brand, but couldn’t smell that either. Sudden loss of smell can be a Covid symptom. The situation was weird enough that I got tested for covid, and it was positive. So, thank you Nielsen Massey for making a vanilla so amazing and reliable that the absence of the usual smell and flavor could serve as a warning. And if you’re reading this, and your vanilla seems way off . . . well, it’s not always the vanilla.

54 people found this helpful

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Crawwilk

Quality problems

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

I am a regular user of this brand vanilla. I always considered it the best, however, my most recent batch was extremely off in taste. It has an almost metallic taste that is definitely not the quality received previously. I'm really disappointed. This was always my go to vanilla. Unfortunately, I had an immediate need for it so I had to buy locally (Penzeys vanilla) in order to make a large batch of items for an event. Surprisingly, that brand had an amazing taste so I guess I found a new vanilla that is less expensive and I can buy locally without issue.

41 people found this helpful

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2,226 total ratings, 873 with reviews

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From the United States

SurveySez

BONUS FEATURE: alerted me to COVID!

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

54 people found this helpful

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currer_bell

Usually excellent, possible bad batch

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2018

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I’ve been using this vanilla for years and love it. However, the bottle I recently bought was not the same. It was barely the colour of weak tea and did not have the same aroma. It seemed like it had been very watered down. I don’t know if this was a fluke, or if it’s due to the ongoing vanilla bean shortage, but do keep an eye out. I’m not one to complain but at almost $50, I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else.

I’m giving it five stars because it’s been perfect every other time and because Amazon customer service was very helpful in taking care of this.

48 people found this helpful

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Fisqual

It's worth it.

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2018

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I used to work in a wedding cake shop and we only used this vanilla in our cakes. ...10 years later this is absolutely the only vanilla I will buy.

Everyone I bake for becomes just a little bit of a flavor snob. Last time I made chocolate chip cookies, I was out of this good stuff and used McCormick and my room mates asked me why they didn't taste as good!

37 people found this helpful

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R. White

Cheesecake is expensive!

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

You might as well pull out all the stops then every time you make a cheesecake. In the tradition of my mother and Mrs. Intino who gave her the recipe and literally taught her how to make it, I make 12" cheesecakes in a water bath. Today the typical cheesecake is 9". The 12" version is over 75% larger.

Mrs. Intino's recipe created a work of art in the first place. There is not much that can be done to improve it except to use better quality ingredients. My mother, following Mrs. Intino's instructions to the T used Nabisco Honey Grahams and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, plus the remaining ingredients, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, etc. being any kind available.

The only way I can find to improve upon the recipe is by using significantly better quality ingredients. I use range free eggs. I use European style unsalted butter. Instead of white processed granular sugar, I use two kinds, a blonde raw sugar and a brown turbinado sugar. When it comes to vanilla, a major crucial ingredient, I use Grade A Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans and Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract.

The Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract is more expensive than most other vanilla extract, but if you want the best quality of vanilla, the Madagascar Bourbon, it is going to cost more anyway. What is just as important as the Madagascar Bourbon vanilla is the quality of the extract. For that you have to rely on the people who do it right and do it the best. In the case of vanilla extract that is Nielsen-Massey.

Even if you are just a big fan of vanilla, you would be doing yourself a favor in investing in at least an 8 ounce bottle to have on hand whenever you wanted the benefits of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla in any of your dishes.

5 people found this helpful

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Reed

Pricey but worth it

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I bake a lot and usually use this vanilla. Recently I was given a bottle of McCormick vanilla and there was a significant difference in the taste of my cookies. For years people have loved my cookies and some have asked for recipe , then they tell me they don't taste as good ,as if I left some hidden ingredient out. Just last year I had an epiphany. It is all about ingredients and the kind of vanilla counts as well as the kind of chocolate and butter and eggs to a lesser extent.
This is excellent vanilla.

3 people found this helpful

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meme

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I've been a successful baker for 13 years. This is the ONLY vanilla that I use. I have a waiting list of customers requesting my cakes. I'm convinced that it's due to the quality ingredients that I use. Everything that I use to bake is the highest level of quality which is why I use ONLY Nielsen-Massey extracts. Their other flavors are also the best, specifically the vanilla and almond. BTW, I raise my own chickens to make sure the quality of the eggs is perfect. Anyone can bake, just use the best quality that you can afford. This is the one!!!

One person found this helpful

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Rachel

Hands down the best vanilla I've ever used.

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2014

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I bake a ton at home. Ive always used McCormick or Kirkland vanilla extract ... oh my gosh, I bought this on a whim when I decided to splurge on a few kitchen items I needed. It's the best vanilla ever. I'm a vanilla lover, so the deeper vanilla bourbon flavor wasn't a problem for me. Some of the other reviewers have mentioned needing to use less since this is such a rich vanilla flavor, I would agree if you dont want vanilla to be the main flavor, but rather the flavor that binds, a little is only needed.
But if you are like me and love vanilla bean cookies, oatmeal scotchies, & chocolate chip with a strong vanilla presence ... you are in for a treat!

30 people found this helpful

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Kris Jean

Perfect vanilla flavor

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2020

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I love this vanilla I just can't always afford it. The negative is the price but the positive is everything else. This is known as the gold standard for vanilla if you ask me. The aroma is great, the flavor is delicious and I really like the type of bourbon vanilla more than others. My favorite use of this is in something raw. For instance marshmallows where you can really get the vanilla flavor in there. This is also great for any cookies or even in hot chocolate. This extract is thin and not very vicious which works for my uses but if you're looking for a recipe that needs some moisture you might want to try ground vanilla beans. I love this exact and the brand is great.

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A. Downing

This is the most aromatic and delicious vanilla

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2018

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I have tried spices etc. (bitter, flavorless) and Rodelle (pretty good but not as aromatic) and McCormick (tasteless). But this is just so much better. I’m often concerned with getting the real thing on Amazon since Amazon seems to have a lot of quality control issues with chocolate and vanilla. However, when you get the real stuff, there is no comparison. Worth the money even with the post-storms-in-Madagascar pricing. When is the price coming down? Alas

8 people found this helpful

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scopin4u2Top Contributor: Baking

Perfect

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022

Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase

I love this vanilla. It tastes so good in the cooking and baked goods. I tried it in my smoothies before and my oatmeal and it was just delicious! I’m a hooked repeat customer of this. Highly recommend!

One person found this helpful

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Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, 8 Ounce

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