Terrasoul Superfoods Vanilla Bean Powder (Organic), 6 Ounce

I had read about the Terrasoul brand on a website (something to do with vegan raw foods or something) and was excited to try it. For about a year or so, I had been buying Pure Ground Vanilla Bean powder from the brand "Wildnerness Poets" at my local co-op. That brand is $11 for 1 oz so I decided to try the Terrasoul brand since it's around the same price for 3 times as much product.Eh. I just opened the bag and it's not awful or anything. Without anything to compare it to, I'd probably have been very happy with it. But the Wilderness Poet's brand is MUCH darker, has some moisture, and a wonderfully potent scent. (It's in a small jar.) The Terrasoul was much lighter in color - it seemed more dried out perhaps because of the packaging? Or maybe I got an older one?) and the scent was somewhat faded. It seems like a great company and a good concept. But this vanilla bean powder falls short of what I'm used to - I'm going to stick to the more expensive brand for vanilla bean powder.*** Update: the company contacted me and I told them all of this. They said someone else had said something similar and it may be an older batch that Amazon should have sent earlier. (I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt - I'm sure Amazon causes issues sometimes!) They're sending me a new bag, nocharge. I will update again after I get it. I think this is a great company and am hoping the fresher bag will be much better!)

I first came across powdered vanilla about a year ago and fell in love. I love to cook and bake and I honestly don't know how I missed it all these years. Like others, I went with a much more established brand originally. While the other brand wasn't bad, it wasn't pure vanilla bean. I was looking for something pure and organic, when I came across this product. I did read in reviews that the product had a foul to no odor present, but I also read reviews saying it was wonderful. I decided to take a chance. To my dismay there was very little to no odor when I opened the package. I did not think it was going to be a successful affair, however after making the purchase I decided to use it anyway and I am so glad I did! I was extremely pleased to find that there is a lot of flavor, real authentic vanilla flavor, packed into this dark powder. It really doesn't make much sense to me because part of the taste comes from the fragrance, but it works, so I'll take it. I made vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting and they sure did have a punch of vanilla! I also used it in sugar cookies and it did not color the cookie a noticeable amount. The pictures give you an idea of what to expect when baking with it as far as looks go. Yes, I do see the irony in wanting a pure, organic product and then adding food coloring. ;) The baby shower just wouldn't have been as festive without it.

Package arrive still sealed but with the internal closure seal blown open. Don't know if that was from heat (and if if was did that ruin the product?) or overfilling or something else. It required a huge waste of time to surgically open the package so as not to damage the internal closure since it was so full you couldn't tell where the closure was and following the notch on the package didn't allow it to open. When I finally got it open the internal closure was of course full of vanilla powder so it wouldn't reseal. Before I messed with it further I decided to try it since I planned to either store it in something else or return it. My experience is below. In my wife's shake made with a Magic Bullet it could be seen floating around in the froth but she claims it added some flavor. Her's was a packaged vanilla flavored shake to which she always adds vanilla.In a thin protein shake made with Allmax unflavored powder and shaken in a blender cup it did nothing but sink to the bottom - I suppose that is a function of how finely or not finely it is ground and that it is partly comprised of the vanilla pod. It vaguely tasted of vanilla once I added some honey but before the sweetener it was impossible to tell that I had added 1/2 tspn to only 12 ozs of liquid. This is my 2nd experience with this company - they sent me bags of Maca powder for no reason (never ordered them) and it took me all kinds of gyrations to get them to send me a label so I could do them a favor and send them back their own expensive Maca powder. All in all not impressed. Perhaps this will turn out to be a worthwhile flavoring for something.UPDATE -6/24/15 - I've tried this product again using a different combination of ingredients and this time mixed with a blender but with the same lackluster results. The product has a medicinal odor and a definite aftertaste but not one you would want. Originally I gave this 2 stars. Now my wife has also downgraded her opinion to "don't order it again".

Overpriced for a product that has no flavor, expensive for a small amount, and no use that I can detect. There's a very slight bitter taste, but, I've tried using it a few times now in various ways, and it adds nothing but the flecks we look for in a vanilla baked good or smoothie. I purchased it, despite the high price, to augment my paleo cooking style. Despite the deep rich colour, and lovely texture, it adds absolutely nothing to any product that I can tell. I will finish the bag out of principle merely because it's so expensive, but I don't like it, will use it for "decorative" purposes and for the alleged nutritional value listed.UPDATE: I have so far used this powder in four different recipes, including both raw and cooked. It added no flavour in any recipe, in any instance. It simply added colour to the product.UPDATE #2---I started baking with it, especially paleo cakes and breads, and now I finally can taste it, plus it adds a great colour to my baked goods. No taste if tasted directly but I'm wondering if BAKING with it, the heat, brings out the taste? I've found a use for it. It may not be as versatile as expected but now that I've got results I know how to apply it.