Gourmet Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Planifolia

Mexico is said to be the birthplace of vanilla. In modern times, most vanilla beans available today come from Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia Uganda Comoros and other vanilla production growing regions. The beans themselves come from a vanilla vine, a climbing variety of orchid known commercially as v. Planifolia or v. Tahitensis. To obtain fruit from the orchid plant hand pollination of the vanilla flower must occur within 12 hours of flowering. Once pollinated the flower bears the green vanilla fruit. Over many months of growing, harvesting and curing this green bean will become what most people know as a vanilla bean. Vanilla beans need to mature for around nine months on the vine before being fully mature for curing. It takes a minimum of three additional months for the curing process. During the curing process, vanilla beans are carefully sorted before being placed in a hot water bath to kill the beans followed by series of steps consisting of sweating, sunning, massaging, shade drying, and inbox conditioning. Each step is a critical element to ensure that our vanilla beans are aromatic, stable and premium quality. 

It is said, somewhere around 1841 Edmond Albius first discovered how to hand pollinate the vanilla orchid. To do this a small splinter of wood, stem, or tooth pick was used. The tool is used to lift the flap and exposing the male reproductive area of the flower. Once exposed it can be manually connected to the female reproductive area known as stigma. This is how successful commercial vanilla pollination began. This breakthrough moment is what kick started vanilla cultivation in the Indian island countries such as Reunion, Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Enjoy authentic Madagascar vanilla beans today or shop any of our other premium quality vanilla beans online.

Still have questions about vanilla?  Check out our vanilla bean resource center to find answers to some of the most common questions about vanilla beans.