What is Vanilla Bean?

Vanilla Beans are the whole cured seed pods of Vanilla planifolia, a climbing orchid native to the rainforests of Mexico and Central America. Vanilla is the only orchid grown as a major spice, and the "bean" is really the pod, split and scraped for the fragrant black seeds inside. The characteristic aroma comes chiefly from vanillin.

About the plant

Vanilla is famously laborious to produce, and it ranks as the second most expensive spice by weight after saffron. Each flower opens for only a single day, and outside its native Mexico, where the plant lost its natural pollinator, every bloom has to be hand-pollinated one at a time. The green pods carry almost no scent; the vanilla aroma develops over weeks of curing, alternating sun and sweating. Madagascar, source of the prized Bourbon vanilla, grows a large share of the world's supply.

Vanilla Bean: form & sizes

We carry Vanilla Bean as whole cured beans, sold by weight in sizes from 1/4 oz to 1 oz. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Vanilla Bean in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Vanilla Bean at a glance

Botanical name

Vanilla planifolia

Family

Orchidaceae (orchid family)

Native region

Mexico and Central America

Plant part

cured seed pod

Format note

Second most expensive spice by weight, after saffron

Primary aromatic

Vanillin

Notable origin

Bourbon (Madagascar) vanilla is the most prized

Form

whole cured beans

Sizes

1/4 oz to 1 oz