Vanilla Cultivation
Vanilla pods don’t just come off the vine black and shiny with distinct flavor and aroma. They start out green with very little fragrance requiring to be transformed through a labor intensive process to bring out their unique properties.
The process of hand pollinating each individual flower, harvesting the mature pods and undertaking a four stage curing operation is explained further below.
Vanilla Flower Pollination
Vanilla Pods are one of the most exclusive spices in the world, primarily due to the extensive labor required to grow and process the Vanilla. It takes eight months, from when the farmer hand pollinates each flower, to when Vanilla Beans are ready for harvesting.
Vanilla Pod Cultivation
The plant that produces vanilla is from the orchid family and is a perennial climber living in tropical areas where the temperature ranges between 21 to 30 degrees. Vanilla beans are picked while they are still green and have to be cured to create their distinct vanilla flavor and smell.
Vanilla Pod Harvesting
The vanilla pods are harvested as they ripen once their color changes from dark green to light green with a yellow tinge. The pods then undergo several stages of processing including classification into length, scalding in hot water and curing in sweating boxes.
Vanilla Pod Curing
Once the vanilla has been scalded in hot water and transferred into a wooden box for sweating, they will attain a light brown color and start imparting aroma. At this point, they will be spread in the sun for drying during the day and repacked into sweating boxes each night for a 14-day period.
Our Vanilla Pods
Natural Vanilla Store sources vanilla pods fresh from the largest plantations in Indonesia, Madagascar, and PNG. We frequently airfreight new stock into our distribution office and guarantee that our vanilla is fresh and fragrant.
We are able to source some of the finest vanilla pods, with dark oily textures and strong vanilla fragrances, through our long association with the agricultural industry.
We offer a selection of the finest quality vanilla products through our online store. We have experience in sending vanilla pods all around the world and are able to quickly fill all domestic and commercial orders.
Cultivated in an organic manner without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides.
Purchased following principles and practices prescribed by the Fairtrade organization.
Vanilla orchids are grown without any form of genetic modification to the plant genes.