Product Review

Vanilla planifolia otherwise known as Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, named after 2 islands in the Indian ocean noted for cultivating the crop. Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is by far the most popular of the 3 cultivated vanilla species - Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla tahitiensis and Vanilla pompona. Vanilla bean pods are graded after they are harvested, cured, conditioned and ready for use. The grading is based on moisture content, length of the pod and lack of dehiscence/wholesomeness of appearance. High moisture content, long, oily and dark seed pods with no splits/dehisces are given the highest grade, A, the Gourmet grade. The Gourmet grade/Prime grade/Grade A, typically has about 30% moisture content, are 5" or longer and 1lb contains between 100 -120 pods. The grade B beans have about 15-25% moisture content, are relatively shorter (less than 5"), may have some blemishes and 1lb contains about 140-160 bean pods. The cured fruit seed pod with the vanilla flavor houses thousands of tiny, black seeds. The pods and the seeds are both useful for culinary purposes.