Madagascar Spices farms, processes and exports vanilla, mainly of the type Vanilla planifolia, also known as Bourbon vanilla, or simply Madagascar vanilla.
Much of the world’s natural vanilla is grown in the SAVA region in the northeast of Madagascar. While the vanilla plant originates from Mexico, the tropical climate of our region provides perfect conditions for cultivating the highest quality Bourbon vanilla with its soft and gentle flavour for which Madagascar’s vanilla is world renowned.
The preparation procedure of our beans is done according to traditional methods which Malagasy farmers and highly skilled preparers have perfected for generations.
During August each year, the green beans are harvested and brought to our processing facility in Sambava, where the beans are scalded gently for three minutes at 60-70°C.
The beans are thereafter dried for about eight weeks in the sun and for approximately another three weeks in the shade. Finally, the beans are left to stabilise before being sorted, separating those which have splits or which have partly broken. The beans are graded by type, before being packaged and finally made available for export.
Our main three types of beans are derived from the same Bourbon Vanilla planifolia plant but with different preparation and intended uses:
Grade A Gourmet Bourbon Vanilla beans with approximately 27% moisture content. These beans are ideal for cooking, home baking, craft ice cream, selling as whole beans.
Grade B Extract Bourbon Vanilla beans with approximately 23% moisture content. Grade B beans are not less aromatic than Grade A, but better for making vanilla extract, vanilla sugars, flavouring chocolate bars, ice creams and drinks etc.
Grade C Bourbon Cuts with approximately 12% moisture content (short beans, splits) are suitable for vanilla powder (produced at our facility) as well as for non-food products, such as essential oils, aromatherapy products, body lotions, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, perfumes, air-fresheners etc.