Summer Day Naturals Vanilla Bean Powder, 3.53 Oz - Raw Ground Vanilla Bean - Unsweetened, Gluten-Free - EXTREMELY FRESH - Ground Moments Before Packaging!

I ordered this vanilla bean powder specifically for use in my favorite dessert, a raw vegan vanilla bean cheesecake. That recipe calls for the seeds of a whole vanilla bean pod, so I hoped this product could save me time and money, as the whole pods are extremely expensive at the grocery store. Since receiving this product in the mail, I've used it in two batches of vegan shortbread cookies. In the first batch, I used vanilla bean powder in twice the amount of vanilla extract called for, and in the second batch I used a one-to-one substitution. Both batches were outstanding with a delicious vanilla flavor. The specks of vanilla are a special touch that I love. I won't double the amount anymore because I want to use this powder in many more recipes, such as vegan ice cream and yogurt. I don't use any refined sugars in my baking, so the pure, fresh taste of vanilla is a fantastic addition to my bakes. In the bag, the vanilla bean powder smells fresh and natural. I haven't yet tried it in brewing my coffee as Sunny Day Organics suggests, but I may do that when I run out of vanilla coffee at home. I highly recommend this product! Thank you, Sunny Day Organics.

Opened the packet and I did in fact smell vanilla. It didn't smell like cookies were baking in the oven or anything because that's a different/combined smell. If this makes sense, it smelled like vanilla tastes, mild. So, I put some in my cocoa. I think it was probably the equivalent of a 1/4 teaspoon. I was mixing it in while the water was still very hot (too hot to drink yet). I got a very nice mild vanilla aroma, and the drink was flavored very nicely with a mild vanilla as well. Obviously when you get to the bottom it's there with the dregs though not harmful to ingest or anything. I made a second cup in the same cup with it still there and that had a lesser vanilla flavor as well; I would probably add just a tiny bit more if I do that in the future. Anyway I really like it and think it is of good quality. ^_^

Amazing as an ingredient in protein shakes, if you prefer to make your own shake without all the chemicals and nasty artificial flavorings. I add a tsp of this vanilla to just about every shake combination I make, along with a good quality unflavored whey protein (I prefer undenatured, cold processed and grass fed). This vanilla tastes very good and way better than using a vanilla extract, and doesn't contain any extra stuff like glycerin or alcohol. And i'ts way more convenient than buying vanilla pods and preparing them each time. My go-to recipe right now is 40g whey protein, 1 scoop collagen peptides, 5g of this vanilla bean powder, about 180 ml cashew/almond/coconut/hemp milk, a little dash of cinnamon, a sprinkle of salt, and whatever sweetener you like to taste, 40-60g frozen blueberries or strawberries, about 3-4 ice cubes, and then throw it all in a magic bullet and blend until smooth.

For the price of this product I was expecting delightfully fragrant and flavorful vanilla powder with notable potency. Well, this stuff is pretty much useless and the exact opposite of what I was expecting. It has almost no scent or taste whatsoever: its scent is extremely faint, and it tastes nothing like vanilla and more like dirt. (I can smell and taste everything else just fine, so it's not as though my senses have been compromised.) It says on the package that a teaspoon of this powder should equate to a teaspoon of vanilla extract, but this is nowhere near true. Often, my husband will make smoothies and add just a few drops of vanilla extract for a nice vanilla flavor, whereas with this stuff he added a tablespoon of the vanilla bean powder and it didn't add really add a vanilla flavor at all. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! Please save your money and don't waste it on this extremely disappointing and overpriced bag, for all intents and purposes, dirt.

This was the second time that I purchased this wonderful product. It's a great alternative to alcohol based vanilla. Not only do I seek out pure clean products for my family's well being, but I also have an epileptic child who is stabilized by a medical Ketogenic diet which allows only 2%-5% of daily calories to be from carbohydrates. SunnyDay Organics pure natural vanilla bean powder only has 0.5 grams of sugar per teaspoon and the natural fiber of the vanilla bean ground down adds fiber and fiber lowers the powders glycemic index. Alcohol based vanilla is much higher in carbs (sugar) because alcohol is sugar. On top of all of this, this raw vanilla bean powder is fresh and so rich in flavor. It makes the overall flavor of an avocado cacao pudding I make really pop;)