vanilla beans

Vanilla is a cherished flavor that’s used for a variety of comfort foods, desserts, and beverages. It has a very sweet uplifting aroma that is often used in scented products like candles, air fresheners, and commercial perfumes.

But do you know where it comes from or how it’s made? Here’s everything you need to know about vanilla beans, and how to acquire them, and how to use them.

What Are Vanilla Beans?

What Are TheyVanilla is the essence or flavor derived from vanilla beans, which is an exotic spice native to various Indo-pacific regions, Madagascar, and the historic region of Mesoamerica that covers modern-day Mexico through to Northern Costa Rica.

There are three major species of the vanilla plant, Vanilla Tahitensis, Vanilla Planifolia, and Vanilla Pompona. They’re sometimes referred to by their colloquial name “Flat-leaved Vanilla” for their distinctly smooth and seamless leaves.

Vanilla beans are extracted from the pods of the orchids of the plant after full bloom. They have a history of being cultivated and used in recipes and aromatherapy that stretches back to the Aztec civilization. Raw vanilla beans taste surprisingly good. They have a rich sweet flavor with light floral and smoky notes.

Best Vanilla Beans

Best Vanilla Beans

Shopping online for vanilla beans can be tough, especially with so many kinds to choose from. Taste and aroma can vary with different strains of vanilla, where it’s grown, or the type of soil it’s grown in.

There are over 150 types of vanilla orchids throughout the world, with each producing vanilla beans that work best with a particular recipe or for scents. For instance, Mexican vanilla is great for pairing with recipes that involve chocolate, whereas Madagascar vanilla is better suited for vanilla ice cream and baked foods.

Common Varieties

The top contenders from across the world for vanilla beans are Madagascar bourbon, Mexican, Indonesian, and Tahitian. But what’s best for you ultimately comes down to your own preferences. Here are some of the most common kinds of vanilla you can buy and their unique flavor profiles.

#1. Madagascar Vanilla – Creamy, Rich, Pure Vanilla

#2. Mexican Vanilla – Bold, Dark Tone of Smoke, Spicy

#3. Indonesian Vanilla – Smoky, Woody, Prunes, Figs

#4. Tahitian Vanilla – Fruity, Floral Notes

#5. Ugandan Vanilla – Buttery Vanillin, Chocolate, Figs

#6. Papua New Guinea Vanilla – Butter, Caramel Undertones, Oak, Fruit

#7. Indian Vanilla – Full Bodied, Chocolate

#8. Tonga Vanilla – Earthy, Figs, Raisin

Grades Of Vanilla Beans

Another thing you need to be aware of before purchasing vanilla beans is the grades. There are two primary grades — A and B. However, there is a range of grades that exist between them as well, such as A-1 or B-1.

Are grades reflective of quality? No. Grade A isn’t better than Grade B or the other way around. The grouping and subgrouping are to account for the differences in appearance, moisture content, and scent that influence the product they go into.

It helps gourmet chefs make a more educated guess when choosing what type of vanilla bean would work best in their recipes. Here are the key differences between Grade A and B.

Grade A

Grade A vanilla beans have a higher moisture content, usually around 30%. They’re dark and chocolate-like in color with a soft texture. Grade A vanilla is much sought-after for gourmet recipes because they have a better aroma and are easy to integrate.

Grade B

Grade B vanilla beans have a low moisture content, but they are more concentrated, and this makes them ideal for producing vanilla extract or essence. You can use Grade B interchangeably with Grade A vanilla beans in recipes, too, but only when time isn’t a factor because they do take longer to work with.

Where To Buy Vanilla Beans

Where To Buy Vanilla Beans

If it’s raw vanilla beans you’re looking for, your best bet is a local spice store or online shopping sites like Walmart and Amazon. Shopping online is preferable because you’ll likely have more options to choose from.

Make sure you purchase them from a verified and reviewed seller and always check the expiration date. Unlike vanilla extract, beans don’t last forever and usually only have a shelf-life of 6 months to 3 years, depending on the potency.

Why Are Vanilla Beans So Expensive?

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, coming in second to saffron. Cultivating vanilla beans is an incredibly arduous task that generally requires more labor-intensive means, which makes the vanilla beans expensive.

How To Grow Vanilla Beans

How To Grow Vanilla Beans

Vanilla comes from an orchid plant that grows as a fruit in tropical climates. If you live in a warm region with humidity, it should be fairly easy to grow your own vanilla beans. The only problem is that it’s a long growing process, so it’s not for the impatient.

If you’re planning to cultivate your own vanilla beans, that could take at least 3-4 years, and in some cases, it’s been known to go up to 5 years. It takes a vanilla plant about 9 months to 3 years to mature, and once the orchards have bloomed, they need to be hand-pollinated in order for the vanilla pods to form.

But if you’re committed to waiting, and it’s definitely worth the wait, too, here are the steps to follow.

Steps:

#1. Order a vanilla plant or purchase one from a local gallery. Getting a plant that’s already begun growing will help you achieve results faster.

#2. Transplant it into another pot, preferably twice as large, and fill it with equal parts of orchard potting soil and regular soil.

#3. Add a lattice or stick to support the plant. Vanilla bean plants grow vines and need something to climb on to grow.

#4. Find a spot with high humidity and bright indirect sunlight to place the pot. The ideal temperature to get a vanilla plant to bloom is 60℉ and above.

Caring For Your Vanilla Plant

#1. Mist the plant with spray water every day and ensure the plant never gets overwatered. The ideal is to keep the soil moist, not soaked.

#2. You should also add orchid fertilizer to the plant at least once every 2 weeks during spring and summer. Orchid fertilizers can be purchased online or from the same store where you bought the plant or pods.

#3. Once the flowers bloom, they only stay open for a short period of time. Because the bees that generally pollinate vanilla plants are nearly extinct, they need to be hand-pollinated. To do this, you can simply use a toothpick to collect pollen from the female part of the plant to the anther.

How To Store Vanilla Beans

Once you’ve harvested your vanilla beans, you need to sun dry them for a month, where they undergo a process known as sweating. This turns them brown and dry.

After that, store them in an air-tight container in a cool, dark, and dry location. Check them regularly to make sure they aren’t developing mold, and never put them in the refrigerator.

How To Use Vanilla Beans

You can turn your vanilla beans into a paste, homemade extract for desserts, use them for flavored coffees and teas, bath salts, and so much more. They’re incredibly versatile, so feel free to get creative.

When you’re ready to use your vanilla beans for something, just remember, they need to be split down the middle with a sharp knife to scrape out all the seeds.


Featured image source: Pinterest.com

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