Cultivated in greenhouses requiring special certification, these Tahitian Vanilla Beans are plump and soft with a warm brown hue. Their distinctive aroma and rich flavor develop during an elaborate curing process that has been perfected over more than a century. It’s important to choose vanilla that has been smartly stored, so it doesn’t lose its potency: This one comes sealed in an airproof bottle. To use the beans, split open the pod using the tip of a knife, carefully scrape out seeds, and stir them into a base for homemade ice cream (with a splash of bourbon), panna cotta or rice pudding. Save those pods (wrapped tightly in plastic and put back in the bottle) to flavor everything from curries to French toast batter.