Vanilla

About Vanilla

Vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron — each flower must be hand-pollinated with a toothpick (the native Mexican Melipona bee only exists in Mexico). Takes 9 months from pollination to mature pod, plus 3–6 months of curing. India grows vanilla in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Synthetic vanillin lacks the hundreds of complexity compounds in real vanilla.

Health Benefits

• •Vanillin has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
• •Vanilla fragrance shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood in clinical studies
• •Hydroxybenzaldehyde compounds have potential anticancer properties in research
• •Traditional use as an aphrodisiac and mood-elevating botanical

Culinary & Industrial Uses

• •Premium ice cream, custard, crème brûlée and pastry globally
• •Vanilla extract as the world's most widely used flavouring ingredient
• •High-end perfumery and luxury fragrance formulations globally
• •Speciality chocolate and luxury confectionery

Processing & Grades

Pods harvested immature, then blanched in hot water and sweated for months to develop vanillin. Graded by length, moisture and vanillin content. Available whole pods, powder, extract (single/double fold).