Testimonials

Many thanks to all our friends, supporters and customers. Your expressions have been a source of inspiration of encouragement to us as we carry on in our mission.

Kudos on our products & services…

From Andie Paysinger
& the PENDRAGON Basenjis, Teafer, Singer & Player

I am extremely impressed with the quality of the vanilla products I received this past week. Indeed I am so pleased with the quality and the service that I have posted the following message on the Teamail list which will hopefully inspire some of the members to switch to (in my opinion) a superior product.

I am sure that many of you, as am I, are deep into holiday baking mode at this time. Much has been done, but the countdown continues and one must restock on the necessities. I use a lot of vanilla extract and vanilla beans and was nearly out of my supply.

A vendor was recommended to me a few months ago and a bit over a week ago, instead of ordering from my usual vendor I decided to try the products from The Vanilla Company in Santa Cruz, California. http://www.vanilla.com/

My order arrived via Priority mail in just a couple of days (I am in southern California and Santa Cruz is up north).

The quality is exceptional - much better than from the previous vendor…

The usual disclaimer, the only association I have with this vendor is as a (very satisfied) customer.

Just a note to let you know I am very pleased with my first order from vanilla.com. The beans are great looking...not those pathetic dried up morsels one can purchase at a supermarket. They smell so good, I may eat them before they make it to my next recipe. The service was also very good. Much faster than I expected and the speed is appreciated.
Thanks for the great service. I'll be back.
Kristina

Thank you for the speed at which you processed my last order, and the response to this order.  I now purchase my vanilla from your company since it is supporting the farmers in some of the poorest countries on Earth. Since I live alone, I cook only for myself, unless my brother and his family come down on vacation.  I, then, will cook a meal for the entire family.  I was surprised when the teenagers came back for seconds.  They liked the flavor.  As a secret ingredient, I added 2 drops of the Mexican Vanilla from my first order with the Vanilla Com.pany.  I use vanilla in many of my recipes and deserts, and will only use a quality product.
Chuck Weston

I just received my bourbon vanilla beans today. I was so surprised because I only ordered them on Monday. Your website and the Vanilla Company are amazing. It was wonderful to open the package and get the wonderful aroma of vanilla. Sara

I received my shipment of Mexican vanilla beans and they are exquisite. I’m going on your site now to find a savory vanilla sauce recipe to use over scallops. Peter Planatec

I just want to tell you I made my first batch of cookies with your vanilla, and what a difference! I’ve always bought pure vanilla but it’s never tasted this good.

Today we had four Franciscan friars for lunch.  They were dazzled by an Italian cheesecake prepared with your vanilla.  These friars take a vow of poverty.  Your kindness gave them a taste of just how good our God truly is.  Lisa

I recently purchased some of your vanilla beans and everything you claimed about them is true. Never have I purchased as high of a quality bean as the ones you sent.  I am a personal chef, have been both a hotel and restaurant chef, and I have always looked for the finest product.  Thank you for such a great product and know I will be telling everyone I know both in the commercial and private chef world about your beans.  John E Brinkman

Thanks so much!  This is our second order; we are trying the Bourbon vanilla this time.  We really liked the Mexican extract we received in December.  Your site is helpful and full of information.  We're glad we found you!

My wife, Audrey Fessler, whose birthday gift this was, and I send our thanks for your lovely products and superb service.  We can't wait to begin comparing tastes and aromas.  We learned of your company through David Leite's annotated list of links on his website. P.S.  If asked for a blurb, I would say "products of the highest quality, reasonable prices, superb customer service."

I received my order.  I have to compliment you on the presentation of the basket.  I can't wait to use the vanillas and the beans.  Your cookbook is interesting and I am anxious to make some of the recipes.  Thanks!!!  Pamela Tadiello, World Travel Service

OH MY GOSH, thank you, thank you, thank you!  These are the most beautiful, plump beans I've ever seen.  You guys shipped my order lightning fast, and even threw in a bottle of incredibly fragrant extract.  I couldn't be happier with my decision to order from you and will definitely tell all my friends about Vanilla.com.  I can't wait to use the beans.  I already tried the extract in some cookies less than an hour after opening the package!  Thanks again, keep up the great work.  K

Patricia, you're an original and a delight to work with. Thank you for your help. I adore your products and hope to stay in touch.  Carroll Stoner, Editor, Traditional Home Magazine, Des Moines, IA.

I wanted to send a quick note to you to let you know how happy I am with your company.  Not only do you offer great prices on Mexican vanilla, but I ordered some on Friday and I received it on Saturday!!!  This is the second very successful order I have had with Vanilla.com. Thanks for having such a great site! Josh Eichorn

Years ago my grandmother gave me a recipe for home made vanilla extract.  I have been making it for 25 years.  I haven't made it for a long time because of the poor conditions of store bought beans.  I was reading Fine Cooking magazine in an office a few weeks ago and saw your ad.  I received my beans a few days ago and I have never seen a vanilla bean like this.  I was so excited.  So fresh, so soft, and smelling so good.  I can't stop talking about them to my family.  Thanks so much.  I will surely be ordering again. Denise Casey

I received my shipment of Mexican vanilla beans and they are exquisite.  I’m going on your site now to find a savory vanilla sauce recipe to use over scallops.  Peter Planatec

I just want to tell you I made my first batch of cookies with your vanilla, and what a difference!  I’ve always bought pure vanilla but it’s never tasted this good. (“And you can quote me!”)  Kathy

I just wanted to thank you for the vanilla beans! They are awesome.  I love the Mexican beans; they have a wonderful flavor.  Stephen from the Kitchen Project.

Kudos on the website…

Thanks for creating such a wonderful website.  I am in seventh heaven every time I read your newsletters.  I am from Western Australia.  Fiona George

I did not know such a site existed.  I love vanilla as well I decided to enter the name (vanilla) in the search engine and your site came up. Your accomplishments are so inspiring. I look forward to visiting your site time and time again.  Thyra Byrd

I read your article in the Sentinel a couple of weeks ago. It was so fascinating!  You have the best web site I've ever seen - very well organized.  Congratulations and thank you for bringing the knowledge of vanilla to us all.  Liz Riehl

I just want to tell you what a great web site you have.  I'm a student at the Texas Culinary Academy, and I'm writing a paper on the origins of vanilla and its uses.  I went to Chef Ken Rubin to ask for advice on sources and he immediately referred me to you and your web site.  He said that you are the expert on vanilla.  He was right.  Your site is an excellent source for both the history and legend behind vanilla.  Thank you again for posting such an informative and entertaining web site.  Chani Kuo.

Your site is the best I’ve ever found for vanilla!  Congratulations.  Raul Magana, Mexico

By the way, your site is terrific.  Really great, I love it, and can’t wait to feature it.
David Lebovitz (chef, author, Paris France, with an award winning international blog)

What a simply wonderfully informative website you have created; I came across it this evening and have been transfixed for fully an hour.  Your passion for vanilla and, above all, your friendship and respect for the producers themselves, shines through from these pages.  Steve Bridger, Mexican Wave (www.mexicanwave.com)

Your beautiful web site is enlightening and engaging.  William.

I’m so impressed with your site!  If the dollars from it were equal to the quality you’d be impossibly wealthy!  When I need a vacation I can look at your site with the travel notes.  Maryly  Morga, California

Your web site is beyond imagination!  Thank you very much for sharing your research and education.  I’m impressed.  Sarah Jean Smith (EthnoBotanist/Anthropologist)

Hey, thanks for your information.  I haven’t gotten so much information on vanilla on any site I’ve visited.  Mandy (student)

I must admit I usually don’t write people to thank them for their work, but I feel that I must this time.  Your web pages are informative, inviting, personal and quite enjoyable.
Leslie Bartosh, Director, Galveston College Culinary Arts Program (www.gc.edu/chef)

I was floored to receive your prompt response. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Jim

I must admit I usually don’t write people to thank them for their work, but I feel that I must this time. Your web pages are informative, inviting, personal and quite enjoyable.
Leslie Bartosh, Director, Galveston College Culinary Arts Program (www.gc.edu/chef)

The articles from your site and your heart for those who labour in those growing regions of the world expresses the impression on the quality of your personality. You surely and rightly deserve the crown. Casper Manjor, Vanilla Farmer, Papua New Guinea 

Kudos on our books and newsletters…

I have finally had a chance to sit and read your book (Vanilla), which I thought was greatly done.  Your trip to Tahiti was informative and great for anyone to learn. You truly are the vanilla queen.  Manuata (Tahitian Vanilla Grower)

Want to thank you for your book. My book club just read it and we loved it! We even all had a vanilla potluck! Thanks for such an awesome read. Garrett  http://vanillagarlic.blogspot.com/

With all sincerity, let me thank you for your wonderful book and the samples of vanilla.  I remember in my life there have been countable moments, which have left deep impression in my subconscious and I know that these experiences were unexplainable.  When I received your mail and while opening it, I had the very same experience.  Jai Chaitanya, Ecologist and vanilla farmer, South India

A speaking engagement to promote Vanilla was filmed by C-SPAN for their weekend book reviews.  The segment I did, including a slide show of the faces and places of vanilla, has had many re-runs.

 
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005
Thanks for all you do.  My wife and I were reading your book again the other night.  You have contributed to humanity in more than you will ever know. You're super!  Mark

I've seen your website before, but just this morning I saw your 2/22/05 (vanilla) presentation via C-SPAN 2.  I'll be sure to purchase your book and my future vanilla purchases from your site.  Thanks so much for doing this research about my favorite spice.  Wanda Richards, Virginia

I got to see you promote your book on C-SPAN last night. Thank you for such a great leaning experience. We all ways take on world for granted. You show me how we are all inter-connected by our choice of foods. Your talk was fun and insightful. I wanted to smell and taste your samples. Thank you for your efforts on our part and for your hard work. Mark Dittmar, an Oklahoman.

I saw you on C-span talking about your latest book.   I was totally fascinated by your presentation.  Thank you so much, I just ordered some of your items and will look forward to trying more in the future.  I am telling all my friends about your website and book.  Thanks again, Cheryl Knight

I love your newsletters.  They are awesome with lots of news!  Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.  I was very happy to hear about the exposure from Roker on the Road and the AP article!  I really like that show so keep us posted on when the segment airs because I definitely want to watch it!  Phillis Shimamoto, pastry chef

From the farmers…

Thank you so much Patricia, your email could not have come at a better time. I had just gotten through to the Tepehua village yesterday and they are now waiting on me to provide them with the curer in Papantla. The Totonacs already have superior vanilla, and we want to help those that have been hit hard by the price drop. Thank you for your help, I could not have gotten this far without your help. [Fair Trade Group in Canada]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I really appreciate your time for writing the email to me. I know usually Americans don't have much time. Thank you for your quick reply. I really appreciate your effort. God bless you for your concern of the poor farmers and for being an activist to help elevate the poor farmers worldwide.  Effendi Sutadisastra, Java, Indonesia

The articles from your site and your heart for those who labour in those growing regions of the world expresses the impression on the quality of your personality.  You surely and rightly deserve the crown.   Casper Manjor, Vanilla Farmer, Papua New Guinea