Have been making vanilla extract for a number of years now. Because I am grain free, I use vodka made from grapes. Am very particular with measurements, throw in the beans which have been split and cover them with vodka. I use Balls mason jars, which are well washed, then rinsed with a smidgen of the vodka. The extract is used when it is a deep brown, by which time it smells heavenly and sometimes is starting to thicken. Have yet to throw out used beans, usually adding a couple of new beans when the bottle is empty of extract. I now know there are no hidden ingredients. Love it. We are in Queensland, Australia.

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