Price range: $38.00 through $131.00
Direct-trade. Fair Trade.
Grade A (Prime). V. Tahitensis.
Length: 17 cm+ (about 7 inches). Most Tahitian beans sold online are 5 to 6 inches.
Aroma: Sweet and rich vanilla with subtle notes of chocolate, caramel, and dried cherry.
Our Tahitian vanilla is grown and cured in Papua New Guinea, where V. tahitensis thrives. Formerly found primarily on the tropical Island of Tahiti, these wonderful beans are lower in vanillin content but high in certain anisyl compounds, flavor components that gourmet chefs prize. Its fragrant, somewhat fruity flavor is ideal in ice cream, whipped cream, custards, homemade marshmallow, or fruit-based desserts, like strawberry shortcake.
Sourced direct from family farms & co-ops | Importing since 1994 | Free U.S. shipping on all orders
Description
A Different Kind of Vanilla
V. tahitensis is not the vanilla you grew up with. Where V. planifolia (Madagascar, Mexico, Uganda) is warm and round and familiar, Tahitian vanilla is floral, fruity, and fragrant in a way that can feel almost surprising the first time you use it. Gourmet chefs prize it precisely for that difference — it opens up applications that standard vanilla cannot. Learn more about our sourcing and all four SKUs on our Madagascar vanilla beans page.
Originally cultivated on the island of Tahiti, this species is now grown primarily in Papua New Guinea and the Papua Region of Indonesia, where conditions suit it well. Ours are grown and cured in Papua New Guinea and flown to us from Lae.
Bean Length
These are long beans: 17 cm+, about 7 inches, whole and unsplit. Most Tahitian beans sold online are listed at 5 to 6 inches. A longer pod is simply more bean, so you split and scrape fewer of them for the same result.
Why It Is Different
Tahitian vanilla is lower in vanillin — the compound responsible for classic vanilla warmth — but higher in anisyl compounds, which produce its distinctive floral and slightly fruity character. It is not a substitute for planifolia; it is a complement. Many professional pastry programs teach using both.
Flavor Profile
Sweet and rich with notes of chocolate, caramel, and dried cherry, layered over a fragrant floral base. The finish is bright and slightly fruity — more complex than it reads on paper.
Best Used For
- Ice cream and whipped cream — the floral notes bloom in cream
- Custards and pastry cream
- Homemade marshmallow
- Fruit-based desserts — particularly strawberry shortcake and peach tarts
- Panna cotta and mousse
Grade A (Prime), V. Tahitensis
Grown in Papua New Guinea. 17 cm+ long. Fragrant, moist, and expressive. One of the most interesting beans in our catalog. For a deeper look at origins, grades, and what to look for when shopping, see our guide on buying vanilla beans.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Portion | 1/4 lb, 1/2 lb, 1 lb |
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