Price range: $29.00 through $97.00
Grade A (Prime). V. Planifolia.
Aroma: classic vanilla with cream, caramel, butter and undertones of dried cherry.
We have a long-standing relationship with a small family-owned farm in a remote region of the island of Madagascar, where traditional methods are being used to grow, cure and dry their beans. These are delicious where vanilla is the star, like creme brulee, ice cream, panna cotta, cheesecake, and simple syrup plus infusions like poached pears.
Description
The Gold Standard of Vanilla
Madagascar produces roughly 80% of the world’s vanilla supply, and for good reason. The island’s northeast coast offers volcanic soil, consistent tropical humidity, and generations of farmers who have mastered the slow, labor-intensive craft of vanilla cultivation. No shortcuts. No rushing. The result is a bean that defines what vanilla is supposed to taste like.
Our Madagascar Gourmet Bourbon Vanilla Beans come from a small family-owned farm in a remote region of the island, where traditional hand-pollination, slow curing, and careful sun-drying are still done the old way. We have maintained a long-standing relationship with this family. That trust means we see the best of their harvest — and you taste the difference.
What “Bourbon” Means
The term “Bourbon vanilla” has nothing to do with the whiskey. It comes from the island of Reunion, formerly called Ile Bourbon, where V. planifolia was first cultivated outside of Mexico. Today the term refers to vanilla planifolia grown in Madagascar, Reunion, and other Indian Ocean islands — the same species, the same method, and the iconic flavor the world recognizes as vanilla.
Flavor Profile
These beans open with classic, rich vanilla warmth and settle into notes of caramel, dried cherry, and a subtle earthiness that is distinctly Madagascar. Moist, supple, and deeply aromatic, with a generous interior packed with fine black caviar seeds.
Best Used For
- Creme brulee, panna cotta, and custard bases where vanilla is the star
- Artisan ice cream and gelato
- Cheesecake, shortbread, and vanilla pound cake
- Simple syrup, poached pears, and fruit compotes
- Homemade vanilla extract — pairs beautifully with vodka or bourbon
Grade A (Prime)
These are our top-grade gourmet beans: a minimum of 15cm long, moisture content between 25 and 38 percent, pliable and rich with seeds. Not all vanilla sold as Grade A meets these standards. Ours does.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Portion | 5 beans, 1/4 lb, 1/2 lb, 1 lb |