Different than a run-of-the-mill vanilla extract or paste, this vanilla bean powder consists of whole vanilla pods that have been cured, dried and finely ground. New Zealand company Heilala sustainably sources its beans from small village farms in Tonga that are reviving artisanal farming methods. We love that the powder is packed with vanilla flavor without the alcoholic harshness that you often find in vanilla extracts—Heilala's product contains only vanilla beans and nothing else. Plus, the bean pod contributes its own aromatic complexity, with an earthy, botanical and noticeably fruity character.

A favorite at Milk Street, this vanilla paste has deep, concentrated vanilla flavor. Made from vine-ripened Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans grown in the tropical South Pacific, Heilala’s paste is a combination of three-month cold-extracted vanilla extract mixed with vanilla bean seeds. Every bean used in Heilala’s production is hand-picked by farmers in Tonga. It works beautifully as an easy-to-use alternative to vanilla beans with stronger, more pure flavor than extract—one teaspoon is equivalent to one bean, without the waste or mess of attempting to scrape out seeds. Beyond superlative vanilla flavor, this paste has a sweet floral aroma, fruity and warm spiced notes and dark vanilla seeds, which add a beautiful speckle to baked goods and desserts.