What you need...
2-3 vanilla pods
a sharpe knife and and airtiight container
You should always buy fresh vanilla pods, which are still soft and pliable. Dry and hard ones are much more difficult to work with and will have lost some of their intense flavour. They are stored in airtight glass or plastic tubes to seal their freshness. Vanilla extract is an alcohol extract of the vanilla pods. It does not give the same pleasant aroma as the fresh vanilla pods steeped in sugar.