Find Verified Vanilla Suppliers, Manufacturers and Wholesalers

Vanilla Tahitensis (Tahitian vanilla) sourced from Papua, Indonesia, is a premium niche variety distinguished by its delicate aroma profile with floral, fruity, and anise notes reminiscent of cherry, licorice, and jasmine. Highly sought after by high-end pastry chefs, premium dessert producers, and the fragrance and perfumery industry. Available in limited quantities with complete export documentation.

Vanilla Planifolia (Bourbon vanilla) sourced from Papua, Indonesia, delivering a rich, creamy, and classic caramel-woody flavor profile with strong and persistent aroma. It is the preferred raw material for food and beverage manufacturers worldwide, widely used in ice cream, baked goods, chocolate, and vanilla extract production. Every batch is independently tested and supplied with complete export documentation.

Our premium vanilla beans are carefully cured and graded to develop their characteristic aroma, rich flavor profile, and high vanillin content. Each batch is prepared under controlled handling conditions to ensure consistent quality, moisture balance, and appearance for international markets.

Widely used in food manufacturing, baking, confectionery, beverage production, ice cream, extracts, and premium retail applications, our vanilla beans are valued for their flexibility, strong fragrance, and reliable quality. Consistent grading, professional packaging, and dependable supply make them a preferred choice for importers, distributors, and food industry buyers worldwide.

Grade: Gourmet Grade A
Moisture Content: 30%
Vanillin Content: 2.5%+
Length: 18 cm
Color: Dark brown to black
Texture: Supple, oily, and flexible
Aroma: Rich, sweet, characteristic vanilla fragrance
Defects: Minimal split beans
Processing: Naturally cured and hand graded
Packaging: Vacuum sealed export packaging
Shelf Life: Up to 24 months under proper storage
Applications: Extracts, baking, confectionery, dairy, beverages, gourmet foods

OFFERING SHEET
Vanilla Beans Gourmet Grade (GR22, VFT1)
1. Identitas Produk / Product Identity
Trade Name : Vanilia Gourmet Grade / Gourmet Grade Vanilla Beans
Origin : Indonesia (Sulawesi / Papua)
Botanical Name : Vanilla planifolia
Grade : Gourmet Premium (GR22, VFT1)
HS Code : 0905.00.00

2. Spesifikasi Fisik / Physical Specifications
Parameter (EN) Gourmet Standard
Pod Length 17 cm
Diameter 7 -10 mm
Colour Dark brown, glossy
Moisture Content 30-35% or as requested
Flexibility / Oily Supple, oily
Aroma Sweet, intense vanilla
Purity Free from sand, stones, and insects

3. Chemical Specifications
Parameter (EN) Value
Vanillin Content 2.0%
Moisture Content 30-35% or as requested
Ash Content 7%
Fiber/Impurity Content 1%

4 Packaging
Inner Packaging : Vacuum pack, food-grade plastic, or custom request.
Content per Pack : 250 gr-1 kg, or as requested.
Outer Packaging : Carton box.

5. Terms & Conditions
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) : 100 kgs.
Max. Capacity Supply: 2000 Kgs/month
Price : Contact Us
Incoterm : FOB Jakarta Airport.
Lead Time : 3 (three) weeks after PO confirmation.
Shelf Life : �± 2 years (stored in a cool, dry place, 1520C).

6. Payment
Down Payment: 40 (Forty) %
Redemption : LC irrevocable at sight
Note:
Certificate of Analysis (COA) can be provided upon buyer's request.
Prices are subject to change at any time.

Vanilla Beans

Long coveted for its delicious flavor and tantalizing scent, vanilla beans.

Indian vanilla beans are sweet, creamy and extremely aromatic. Many will contest that the sweet woodsy flavor profile of these beans are superior to that of the Madagascar variety. Indian Vanilla Beans can be used in many of the same applications where Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans are used.

Grade B Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans (also called extract beans) contain significantly less moisture and are less attractive. They are smaller and contain many imperfections (splits and cracks), unlike our premium Grade A beans. Don't worry though, because the flavor isn't in the appearance. These beans will work just fine in your homemade vanilla extract, but are not ideal for baking or cooking with.

Vanilla Beans Grade A & B
(Price includes Shipping Globally and documents needed to clear your custom.)
Origin: Papua Indonesia
Species: Planifolia
Length: 16 - 18 cm
Moisture: 32%
Vanillin: 2.1%
Split beans: 5% max
Mold: None
Bean count: 250 - 350 beans/kg

Our Vanilla Beans are well prepared and packed using professional chamber vacuum sealers. The entire product is placed inside of a vacuum chamber, the air is removed from the chamber, and the bag is sealed. Before export, we manually triple check the pack to ensure you received the freshest quality of natural vanilla beans

Our vanilla powder is 100% natural, non - GMO, gluten free and contains no additives. Ground vanilla beans are most used for culinary purposes, giving cold and warm desserts and baking goods a rich and creamy flavor. Vanilla extract and ground vanilla are perfect alternatives to each other. Vanilla powder is also well known for aromatherapy and cosmetics boutique products. Vanilla powder is perfect to enrich the taste of organic coffee, healthy smoothies, or workout protein shakes by adding a teaspoon to the blend. Vanilla powder is ground from raw gourmet vanilla beans, also known as vanilla pods affecting the dissolvency with liquid.
Color: Dark brown

We have gourmet grade, grade a, premium black vanilla
Product Grade: A
Black, plump and pliable
Premium Black Vanilla
Vanillin: 1,6 - 2,4%
Moisture: 28-35%
Length: 16-17cm (approx 6-7 inches)
Vanillin Content: 1.9-2%
Vanilla Beans are premium-quality cured seed pods harvested from the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia). Renowned for their rich aroma, sweet flavor, and high vanillin content, they are widely used in the food, beverage, bakery, confectionery, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Carefully handpicked and naturally cured, premium vanilla beans feature a soft, oily texture and an intense, complex flavor profile, making them a preferred ingredient for gourmet and industrial applications worldwide.

Premium Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans sourced from carefully cultivated vanilla orchids and traditionally cured to develop a rich aroma and high vanillin content. The beans are soft, moist, oily, and highly aromatic, making them ideal for food processing, baking, confectionery, beverages, ice cream, chocolate, perfumes, and cosmetic applications. Available in bulk quantities with export-quality packaging and quality inspection upon request.

Origin : Uganda
Moisture Content: 27 - 30% (standard cured export grade)
Product: Cured vanilla pods (whole beans), hand-bundled and vacuum-sealed at origin to lock in oils, aroma, and moisture during transit

Product Description
Our vanilla pods are sourced directly from Ugandan growers and cured to standard export moisture levels (27 - 30%). Beans are dark brown to black with a glossy, oily sheen, hand-bundled, and vacuum-packed for freshness. Available across three grades to suit gourmet, food processing, and extraction needs.

Packaging : Vacuum-sealed in food-grade plastic, hand-bundled.

Commercial Terms : MOQ: Volume-based pricing available
Incoterms: EXW / FCA / FOB
Payment Terms: 50% deposit, balance before shipment
Lead Time: Approx. 3 weeks from order confirmation

Product Grade: ABlack, plump and pliablePremium Black VanillaVanillin: 1,6 - 2,4%Moisture: 28-35%Length: 16-17cm (approx 6-7 inches)Vanillin Content: 1.9-2%Color: Dark Brown, almost BlackBotanical Name: Vanilla Planifolia (BOURBON)Fragrance: Strong full rich Vanilla aromaAppearance : soft, fragrant,flexible vanilla beans

Oreo Golden

Flavor : Vanilla Cream
Size : 137G x 24

Exhausted vanilla beans from the previously used vanilla beans in vanilla extract production. Our exhausted vanilla beans are dried, ground into vanilla bean specks, and sterilized to maintain the quality. Its mild vanilla taste turns these exhausted vanilla beans into a flavoring ingredient in ice creameries, gelaterias, the bakery industry, and food manufacturers.

Add 1 tablespoon (Approx. 15 g) of Milkshake mix of this pack to 180 ml (Approx. 1 glass) of Chilled Milk 2. Blend well in mixer for a minute & Delicious Vanilla Milk Shake is ready to relish. Add extra sugar to your taste, if required.

Length starts from 14cm but it is possible to adjust and customise your order up to 17cm.

Black, plump and pliable
Premium Black Vanilla
( Gourmet or Bourbon vanilla of Madagascar)
Vanillin content is: 1.8 - 2.4%

Moisture content is: 28 - 35%

Color: Dark Brown, almost Black

Fragrance: Strong full rich Vanilla aroma

Product Grade: ABlack, plump and pliablePremium Black VanillaVanillin: 1,6 - 2,4%Moisture: 28-35%Length: 16-17cm (approx 6-7 inches)Vanillin Content: 1.9-2%Color: Dark Brown, almost BlackBotanical Name: Vanilla Planifolia (BOURBON)Fragrance: Strong full rich Vanilla aromaAppearance : soft, fragrant,flexible vanilla beans

Premium Grade Tahitian Vanilla Beans are renowned for their distinctive floral aroma, rich fragrance, and complex flavor profile. Carefully cultivated and traditionally cured, these beans are highly prized by gourmet chefs, premium food manufacturers, and artisan extract producers.

Unlike traditional Bourbon vanilla, Tahitian vanilla offers unique notes of cherry, anise, plum, and floral undertones, making it an excellent choice for luxury culinary and fragrance applications. Hand-selected for quality, flexibility, and aroma, these beans deliver exceptional performance in extracts, desserts, beverages, confectionery, and specialty food products.

Premium Grade Tahitian vanilla beans are professionally cured and vacuum-packed to preserve freshness, aroma, moisture, and flavor quality.

Ideal for food processing. baking. cosmetics, perfumes, and flavor extraction industries.

Features: Rich aroma, oily texture, gourmet quality.

Origin: Pacific Island Supply Network
Supply Capacity: Bulk orders available
Supplier: Oneboy Import Export Services

We have premium vanilla Gourmet beans, vanilla powder, vanilla paste, vanilla extract and vanilla extraction grade beans for supply.

Advantages
Premium natural flavor with rich aroma and high vanillin content.
Widely used in the food, beverage, bakery, and confectionery industries.
Suitable for manufacturing vanilla extracts, powders, and flavoring products.
Export-quality beans with excellent moisture retention and flexibility.
Long shelf life when stored under recommended conditions.
Free from artificial additives and preservatives.
Available in bulk quantities with customized packaging for export.
Meets international quality standards for global markets.
High demand among food processors, flavor manufacturers, and cosmetic industries.

Applications: Food & beverages, bakery, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, chocolates, beverages, perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals

Vanilla Pod

NOT JUST YOUR USUAL LATTE- REAL INSTANT- Makes delicious milkshakes. Add 1 spoon of Foodix Milkshake mix to milk/water. Add sugar as per taste if needed.
A Unique Product: Make your child a milk lover while supplementing with vital nutrients including vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Ideal as icy cold milkshake during summer. A warm full-flavored hot milk during winter. Best served and enjoyed both chilled and sizzling hot.
Safe to Use: No artificial flavor, no artificial color, no preservatives, gluten-free and nut-free. Contains natural and nature-identical flavors and natural color. Suitable for vegetarians
Always looking for something new? Surprise your taste buds with a wide variety of options. Foodix have 4 variety of Milkshake (Vanilla Milkshake, Chocolate Milkshake, Coffee Milkshake, Strawberry milkshake!

Premixes are Available for cake flavors like STRAWBERRY & Vanilla. Our Products are 100% natural with no added artificial flavor, no added artificial color, No added preservation, and No MSG for taste improvement. An organic and trustable manufacturer from India.

SWEET CHESTNUT SPREAD WITH VANILLA FLAVOUR

We recommend to eat it with bread, rusk, croissants, waffles, for stuffing pastries and pancakes or it could be consumed by itself with a spoon.

It is a heat treated product and can be stored at room temperature.

The spread is free from gluten, lactose, preservative, flavour enhancer and colouring - a real healthy fineness. We recommend also for vegans and vegetarians.

Weight: 200 g

Vanilla Planifolia
Sumatra Island Origin : Sumatra Island
Moisture : 25 - 30%
Variety : Vanilla Planifolia
Length : 17 - 19 cm
Aroma : Sweet dates, Smokey, and Woody
Physic : Exhibiting an oily, soft, elastic, Skin slighly thick and dry
Flavour : Buttery, sweet, caramel
Grade : Grade A
MOQ : 1 kg

Vanilla Planifolia Papua Islands
Origin : Papua & other Islands
Moisture : 25 - 30%
Variety : Vanilla Planifolia
Length : 15 - 20 cm
Aroma : Cocoa, sweet, and floral
Physic : Exhibiting an oily, soft, elastic, dense, and
sticky
Flavour : Sweet and creamy
Grade : Grade Gourmet & A
MOQ : 1 kg

Vanilla Planifolia Sulawesi Island
Origin : Sulawesi Island
Moisture : 25 - 30%
Variety : Vanilla Planifolia
Length : 15 - 17 cm
Aroma : Smokey, woody and Sweet dates
Physic : Exhibiting an oily, soft, elastic, skin slightly dried and thin
Flavour : Sweet and woody
Grade : Grade A & B
MOQ : 1 kg

Vanilla Planifolia Java Island
Origin : Java Island
Moisture : 25 - 30%
Variety : Vanilla Planifolia
Length : 15 - 17 cm
Aroma : Dried dates, slightly sweet caramels
Physic : Exhibiting an oily, soft, elastic, dense, sticky, and easily scrap
Flavour : Very sweet & last long
Grade : Grade Gourmet & A
MOQ : 1 kg

Supercritical CO2 Vanilla extract (18-22%Vanillin)

Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) is a separation process that uses supercritical fluids, typically supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2), to extract compounds from various materials.

This process offers several advantages, which make the application of supercritical fluid extraction a popular choice for extracting vanilla.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has become one of the most popular green extraction techniques nowadays since it has demonstrated many advantages compared with traditional or classical extraction processes.

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SCO2) has been proven to be an effective solvent and liquid extraction medium with the added benefit of having environmentally friendly attributes.

Carbon Dioxide is abundant, reusable and non-toxic, and it reaches a supercritical point at an easily controlled temperature and pressure.

A New Benchmark in Vanilla Excellence
Experience the next generation of natural vanilla with our Supercritical CO2 extracted Vanilla
Extract, featuring an extraordinary 18-22% vanillin content, up to 100 times more concentrated
than traditional single-fold vanilla extracts.

Crafted using state-of-the-art Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), this extract delivers clean, intense,
and authentic vanilla flavour without the compromises of alcohol or chemical solvents.

Why Supercritical CO2 Extraction?
Supercritical CO2 is a high-efficiency, eco-friendly extraction method that uses natural carbon dioxide under pressure to gently extract flavour compounds without damaging sensitive aromatics. Unlike solvent-based methods, CO2 extraction:

Leaves no solvent residues
Preserves delicate aromatic compounds
Extracts only lipophilic flavour molecules (no sugars, no colours)
Is 100% natural, food-safe, and environmentally friendly
Our extract is 100 times stronger than standard single-fold vanilla, yet cleaner, purer, and more stable

Ideal for Premium Applications
Dairy & Desserts
Fine Bakery Goods
Flavoured Beverages
Beauty and Personal Care Products
Perfumes

Custard Powder is a convenient food ingredient used to prepare smooth, creamy, and flavorful custard desserts. It is generally formulated using starch-based ingredients along with permitted flavoring and coloring ingredients, depending on the formulation. When mixed with milk and heated, it produces a thick, creamy consistency suitable for desserts and bakery applications. Custard Powder is widely used by bakeries, restaurants, caterers, food manufacturers, and households. It can be supplied in bulk quantities with customized packaging and flavor options according to buyer requirements.

High Quality Aromatic Vanilla Beans

Our High Quality Aromatic Vanilla Beans are carefully selected, naturally processed, and suitable for food, beverage, bakery, confectionery, and flavoring applications. These premium vanilla beans are valued for their rich aroma, smooth flavor, natural sweetness, and attractive appearance. Each bean is properly cured to help preserve its distinctive vanilla fragrance and flavorful natural compounds.

The beans have a flexible texture and a deep brown to dark brown appearance, making them suitable for both commercial and professional culinary use. They can be used whole, sliced, or scraped to extract the aromatic vanilla seeds. Their rich flavor profile works well in cakes, cookies, ice cream, chocolate, desserts, sauces, syrups, dairy products, beverages, and vanilla extracts.

We carefully select and pack our vanilla beans to help maintain freshness, aroma, and quality during storage and transportation. Bulk quantities can be supplied for wholesalers, food manufacturers, distributors, restaurants, bakeries, and international buyers. Packaging and quantity can be customized according to buyer requirements.

Product Specifications
Product Name: Premium Aromatic Vanilla Beans
Product Type: Natural Vanilla Beans
Appearance: Long, whole, dark brown to brown beans
Aroma: Rich, sweet, warm, and highly aromatic
Flavor: Smooth, sweet, creamy, and distinctive vanilla flavor
Texture: Flexible and naturally cured
Processing: Naturally cured and dried
Moisture: Typically 25 - 35%, depending on grade and curing
Grade: Premium / Commercial grades available
Usage: Food, bakery, confectionery, beverages, dairy, desserts, and extracts
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Packaging: Vacuum bags, sealed pouches, cartons, or customized bulk packaging
Supply Form: Whole vanilla beans
Origin: Available according to buyer requirements
MOQ: Available according to order quantity
Key Benefits
Rich natural vanilla aroma
Premium appearance and flexible texture
Suitable for food and beverage production
Ideal for wholesale and bulk purchasing
Carefully selected and packed for export
Custom packaging available
Suitable for international buyers and distributors

Product Grade: AAA
Black, plump and pliable
Premium Black Vanilla

Vanillin: 1,6 - 2,4%
Moisture: 18-30%
Length: 16-17cm (approx 6-7 inches)
Vanillin Content: 1.9-2%
Color: Dark Brown, almost Black
Botanical Name: Vanilla Planifolia (BOURBON)
Fragrance: Strong full rich Vanilla aroma
Appearance : soft, fragrant,flexible vanilla beans
Name good quality vanilla bean
Grade AAA
Features No speckle, no mould, No heavy metal, no pesticide, Hand selected
Color Black
Size 10-20cm
Admixture 1% max
Packing Bulk or Tube or at your requests
Moisture 14% max
Samples Free or available

Length starts from 14cm but it is possible to adjust and customise your order up to 17cm.

Black, plump and pliable
Premium Black Vanilla
( Gourmet or Bourbon vanilla of Madagascar)
Vanillin content is: 1.8 - 2.4%

Moisture content is: 28 - 35%

Color: Dark Brown, almost Black

Fragrance: Strong full rich Vanilla aroma

Vanilla Planifolia Bali Island
Origin : Bali Island
Moisture : 25 - 30%
Variety : Vanilla Planifolia
Length : 17 - 20 cm
Aroma : smokey, earthy, floral,
and strong vanilla aroma
Physic : Exhibiting an oily,
soft, elastic, skin moist
and slightly thick
Flavour : Sweet, floral and clean
Grade : Grade A
MOQ : 1 kg

Premium Grade Planifolia Vanilla Beans are carefully cultivated and traditionally cured to deliver exceptional aroma, flavor, and quality.

Known as the world's most sought-after vanilla variety, Planifolia vanilla is prized for its rich, creamy, and sweet flavor profile with notes of chocolate, caramel, and floral undertones.

Each bean is hand-selected to ensure optimal moisture content, flexibility, and high vanillin concentration, making it ideal for a wide range of culinary and industrial applications.

Premium Grade Planifolia vanilla beans sourced from Madagascar, globally recognized for producing some of the finest gourmet vanilla in the world.

Carefully cured to achieve rich aroma, high vanillin content, oily texture, and dark, glossy appearance. Ideal for food industries, bakeries, ice cream manufacturers, cosmetics, perfumes, and vanilla extraction.

Specifications :
Variety: Planifolia (Bourbon Vanilla)
Quality: Grade A Gourmet Vanilla Beans
Features: Strong aroma, rich flavor, long, black, oily beans.
Supply Capacity: Bulk monthly supply available
Supplier: Oneboy Import Export Services- Sales & Marketing Representative for PNG

Vanilla Beans (Planifolia) 100% Premium and Pure from riped fruit for the Best taste! Can provide in bulk and retail with affordable Price. Packaging Vacuum sealed or by Request.
Export to Worldwide
.
Specifications :
* Grade A
* Black Gourmet Planifolia
* Length 12-20cm as you prefer
* Moisture 34-36%
*Vanillin Content. 2%
* Price: $140/kg
MQO: 20kg

Ground Vanilla powder price $80/kg

Our Premium Vanilla Beans are carefully cultivated, hand-picked, and naturally cured to deliver a rich aroma, high vanillin content, and intense flavor. These beans are ideal for food processing, baking, confectionery, and premium culinary applications.

Each batch is well-conditioned, oily, and flexible, ensuring superior quality, strong fragrance, and long shelf life for international markets.

Key Specifications
Product Name: Vanilla Beans
Quality: Gourmet Grade A / Grade B (available)
Vanillin Content: 1.5% - 2.5%
Moisture Content: 25% - 35%
Length: 14cm - 20cm (customizable)
Appearance: Oily, supple, dark brown to black
Aroma: Strong, sweet, and creamy
Form: Whole Beans
Shelf Life: 24 Months
Packaging & Delivery
Packaging:
Vacuum-sealed packs (250g, 500g, 1kg)
Bulk packaging upon request
Container Capacity: Based on packaging (air or sea shipment)
Delivery Time: 5-10 days after confirmation
Supply Ability: 50+ MT/year

Special Designer Choco Vanilla Chips Round

TK Premium Gourmet Black Vanilla Beans are high-quality natural vanilla pods sourced from carefully selected Vanilla planifolia beans and traditionally cured to develop a rich aroma, dark appearance, and premium flavor profile. TK Black Vanilla is preferred by gourmet chefs, pastry manufacturers, chocolate makers, ice cream producers, and food industries due to its excellent aromatic properties, flexibility, and natural vanillin content.

Origin : Madagascar (commonly supplied origin)
Appearance : Dark brown to black, smooth and flexible pods
Length : 14 cm - 20+ cm
Moisture Content : Approx. 28% - 32%
Vanillin Content ; Approx. 1.4% - 2.2%
Pod Type : Whole, non-split beans
Aroma Profile : Sweet, floral, creamy, cocoa and woody notes
Average Pod Weight : Approx. 3 - 5 grams per bean

Botanical name : Vanilla planifolia
Country of origin : Madagascar
Outer appearance : Supple, oily,fleshy & non-split beans
Appellation : Gourmet
Use : Pastry,catering,food Industry
Presentation : Vanilla pods set with a raffia tie
SPECIFICATION
Available length : 12-14cm,14-16cm ,16cm+.....
Moisture content. : 35%
Vanilla content. : 1.2 - 2%
Colour : Dark brown
Characteristics : Non-split beans
Pod weight : 4- 4.5 grams

Good Day Coffe 600g

Product Origin : Indonesia

Key Specifications/Special Features : Food And Beverages, Instant Coffee, Coffee

Minimum Order : 1x20'F

Vanilla Bean Gourment
Size : 15 CM+
Parameters:
Vanillin content: 22,091.4 mg/kg = 2.20914% vanillin
Moisture: 30%

Golden Owl Ventures is a U.S.-based sourcing and trading company connecting international buyers with trusted suppliers across the Pacific region.
We source premium-quality vanilla beans, including options suitable for gourmet, food manufacturing, flavoring and extraction applications. Different grades and specifications are available depending on buyer requirements.
We welcome wholesale and bulk inquiries. Please send your required grade, quantity, specifications, destination country/port, and preferred shipping terms (CIF or FOB) through Go4WorldBusiness, and we will provide a competitive quotation.

The vanilla we sell comes from Java Island, Indonesia

Grade : (a) High Quality

Packing Type: Pp Bags (25kg & 50kgs ), Jute Bag (25kg & 50kg) or Customizable

Processed Style: Fresh

Cultivation Type: Conventional

Incoterms : FOB Chennai/Tuticorin or CIF

Minimum Order Quantity: 1MT

Transport Temp: 8-10 Degrees C

Supply Capacity: 2000mts/month

Pleasantly fragrant rich vanilla beans are the pods or fruits obtained from a tropical climbing orchid. Mayans used them to flavor chocolate drink centuries before Spanish first set their foot in Mexico in 1520. This highly prized bean is native to tropical rain forest of Central America and only recently spread to other tropical-regions by Spanish explorers. Botanically the plant is a perennial herbaceous climbing vine belonging to the family of Orchidaceae, in the genus: vanilla. Scientific name:Vanilla planifolia.

The vanilla plant has unique growth characteristics. It requires supporting tree or pole to grow in height. A matured vine bears deep trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowers open only for one day and are naturally pollinated either by the Melipona bee or long beaked humming birds. However, in cultivation, they are hand-pollinated and now grown commercially in Madagascar, Indonesia, India, Puerto Rica and West Indies. There exist three main cultivars of vanilla. Among them, Vanilla planifolia is the most sought-after bean worldwide.

The other species include Vanilla pompona and Vanilla tahitiensis (grown in Polynesian islands), although the vanillin content of these species is inferior to Vanilla planifolia. Unripe vanilla pods are harvested when they are 5-8 inches long and turn light yellow. They are then blanched briefly in boiling water, sweated and dried under sun over a period of weeks until they turn dark-brown and wrinkled. White crystalline efflorescence which is vanillin, the main essence of vanilla, appears inside in some of the superior quality pods.

Vanilla