Nielsen-Massey International Pure Vanilla Extract for Baking and Cooking Starter Kit with Mexican, Tahitian and Madagascar Bourbon Vanillas, 4 Ounce Bottles

Let me say right from the start, I am new to the realm of authentic vanilla. Sure, I prefer products that have been made with great vanilla and that led me to purchase this set for baking and test tasting with my girls in preparation for putting together cookie care packages as gifts, but up until today, the vanilla in my spice cupboard has been a bottle of the imitation stuff that I bought for a dollar. It's a great value to be sure, but I also never realized just how amazing baking with high quality vanilla like the ones in this set would be. I'm sure we all have our favorites. I found the Tahitian to be rather one note used in buttercream frosting. When it came to the varieties noted as suitable for baking, my girls preferred the Madagascar, a stately, unassuming gentle creaminess that supported the other flavors in the sugar cookies that were the test vehicle. My favorite is without a doubt the Mexican, a huge, round, boisterous vanilla, mouthwatering in its sweetness and with a pleasant woody undertone. I was bowled over by how unbelievably good the flavor was. This was worth every penny and considering the potency, i expect these three little two ounce bottles to last a good long while. As for mixing them together, I haven't really found a combination that beats the flavor profile original 3(in fact it seems to only muddy things up) but it's been fun trying. I would absolutely buy these as a gift, or better yet, keep your secret weapon to yourself and bake them something.

I love Nielsen-Massey vanilla, but I’ve only ever had the Pure Vanilla Extract and decided I wanted to try some different types and this set is terrific. I live close to the Mexican border and some local shops used to carry Mexican vanilla but they don’t anymore. I was looking at the brands I used to buy and they’re not pure vanilla and some of them contain not only sugar but also coloring and artificial flavors. I found the N-M Mexican vanilla as part of this set, as well as the Tahitian vanilla and was sold. I’m somewhat familiar with the characteristics different types of vanilla and you can really smell the difference in each one. Some are better for cooking and others for adding to beverages and I’m really happy to have a variety to choose from now. This didn’t come all together as an actual set, but rather in two shipments. Very highly recommended.*edit - After using the different types I’m even more impressed. The Tahitian vanilla is my absolute favorite with a warm, rich vanilla aroma and smooth taste that I prefer to use in hot or cold beverages. The Mexican vanilla has a spicy note that is great in baked goods as well as beverages.

I ordered the vanilla starter kit in the 2oz size. I like the smooth rich flavor of the Madagascar bourbon as an all-purpose vanilla. The Mexican vanilla pairs nicely with warm flavors such as cinnamon. The Nielsen-Massey website said that the Tahitian vanilla doesn't tolerate heat very well so it's best used in beverages and frostings. I tried the Tahitian in an Italian meringue buttercream, and all we tasted was the alcohol, not much of a vanilla flavor, so I won't buy the Tahitian vanilla again. I will definitely buy the Madagascar bourbon and the Mexican again, both have great flavor, so much better than the old standby at the grocery store. The glass bottles are nice, but for whatever reason the vanilla drips down the side of the bottle when I pour it into a measuring spoon. I've tried pouring it in several different ways and yet it still drips down the side, which is unfortunate considering how expensive this stuff is.

I like the quality of this vanilla and the other extract flavors. It makes an amateur chef like me a pro based on the flavor.

Are they overpriced, certainly. Are they worth it for backing, Absolutely! This was an amazing gift for my wife, who is an avid baker, but had not taken the time to scope out the differences in pure vanilla options. I had initially thought she would come out with a favorite, but now she likes different vanillas for different purposes.

I was already in love with the Madagascar vanilla. I recently became hooked on the Mexican vanilla in my chocolate dishes. The Tahitian vanilla smells amazing, and I can’t wait to find out what dishes I will enjoy with it.This was a very good deal when you compare prices per ounce.Update on the Tahitian. It is my all time favorite! The smell and taste are amazing!

I wasn't sure if these would be different but they are definitely different side by side. I like them all but the Tahitian vanilla is absolutely without a doubt my overall favorite. It's just a matter of opinion and which I use depends on what I'm making. The Mexican vanilla is the most spiced, the Madagascar is the most classic vanilla with the most rum flavor present and the Tahitian is the most floral and sweet.

I really do like this brand, it is a very good quality of vanilla. I really liked the Tahitian vanilla bean paste that you can't seem to buy anymore. I used it for my vanilla flavored home made ice cream. I have used the Tahitian vanilla extract, it sort of works, but I thought maybe one of the other flavors might provide something interesting. Alas, I still want the Tahitian paste. But, these do work, just not as well.