Madagascar Vanilla Hand Pollination
Vanilla planifolia
LAFAZA Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla
What is Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla?
Commonly considered the most desirable variety of Vanilla, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans are grown on the lush tropical island of Madagascar and feature a flavor and aroma that will truly tantalize your taste buds. Cutting open a fresh Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Pod for the first time is a personal experience that we'd hate to spoil with lackluster descriptions of aromas and flavors. But if we had to... we'd tell you that we fell in love with the rich and creamy taste of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. Its sweet but soft scent will leave you looking for ways to include pure Vanilla in your baking and cooking.
Whether baking a batch of cookies or adding some extra sweetness to your coffee, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla is the perfect all-purpose vanilla variety that will take your culinary creations to the next level.
Vanilla Beans
LAFAZA Vanilla Beans are fragrant and full of seeds, with deep black coloration and moist, flexible pods. Each bean contains over 250 active flavor compounds and forms the foundation for each vanilla product that LAFAZA produces. Madagascar Ground Vanilla, Vanilla Extract & Vanilla Paste, all beginning with agroforestry-grown vanilla pods and under the uncompromised eye and traditional practices of the local smallholder farmers of Madagascar.
Vanilla Bean Paste
Vanilla Bean Paste
LAFAZA's Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste is made using our Organic Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract and Organic Pure Ground Vanilla. We use a slow extraction process that brings out the robust flavors and the rich aroma of our smallholder-produced forest-grown Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans.
Ground Vanilla
Ground Vanilla
LAFAZA Ground Vanilla begins with sun-cured Madagascar Vanilla Beans dried to remove nearly all moisture before being ground to a fine powder and sealed in an airtight container - locking in their delicious flavor - Nothing added, nothing lost!
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Extract
LAFAZA Vanilla Extract is crafted from our signature blend of the highest-quality, organic-certified Vanilla grown by Malagasy smallholder producers. This pantry staple highlights the smooth, bold, and deep flavor notes of our forest-grown Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans.
What Makes Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Unique?
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla is an extraordinary ingredient, providing a familiar yet deeply rewarding mouth-watering deliciousness and a fun fact sure to please those around the dinner table or dessert dishes. You see, unlike other Vanillas that are pollinated by bees like you might expect, this one, Vanilla planifolia requires humans to lend a hand with its meticulous yet labor-intensive process passed down through generations of Malagasy smallholder farmers.
Did you know Bourbon Vanilla is hand pollinated?
LAFAZA has an HQ and over 100 employees in Toamasina, Madagascar. Partnering with the local farmers and communities that maintain the rich soil, traditional agroforestry practices, and unique "Bourbon" curing process necessary to bring you these gourmet Vanilla Beans. Known for their higher moisture content, you'll notice that LAFAZA's Premium Vanilla Beans will be moist but dry, full of aroma, and free of breaks and splits. These are the indicators of premium high-quality vanilla.
Shopping For Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla?
It's essential to watch for the quality of the Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and its origin while shopping. You wouldn't want to support farming and business practices that don't align with your values. We recommend our friends and family (when they can't get to LAFAZA products) look for products that are 100% pure, have no additives or preservatives, and come from a sustainable source that you trust to treat the farmers and local community as partners, not profit centers. LAFAZA offers conventionally grown Non-GMO Project Verified and USDA Organic certified varieties in all vanilla formats. You can rest assured that each product's creation follows our unique Farmers, Forests, and Flavors value system, putting People, Planet, and Prosperity at the center of all we do.
All LAFAZA Madagascar Vanilla is grown with traditional forest-friendly practices known as agroforestry in direct partnership with Madagascar's smallholder farmers and community members in the Toamasina region to ensure the rich biodiversity of Madagascar is maintained for future generations.
Shop For MADAGASCAR Ground Vanilla
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SHOP FOR MADAGASCAR VANILLA PASTE
What Are Bourbon Vanilla Beans?
Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans are a type of orchid known as vanilla planifolia, grown in Madagascar, an island nation off the coast of Africa. The vanilla beans are cured and fermented to produce a rich, sweet flavor for extracts, pastes, and other products.
What is Bourbon Vanilla Extract?
Bourbon Vanilla Extract is made from the cured beans of vanilla planifolia, also known as Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, and is one of the most popular forms of Pure Vanilla Extract. It has a strong, sweet, yet mellow aroma with a creamy, smooth flavor that adds complexity to any recipe.
Is There Bourbon In Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla?
No, there is no alcohol in Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The term "Bourbon" refers to the original name of the island where it was first cultivated - Isle Bourbon, known today as Réunion Island. This name has remained associated with the vanilla planifolia species of orchid due to its historical significance and unique flavor profile. If, however, you are holding onto Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, or Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Paste, there is likely alcohol used in the extraction process, and trace amounts will be left over in the final product.
Is Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Gluten-Free?
Yes, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans are naturally gluten-free. Although there are trace amounts of gluten in the extraction process used to produce Vanilla Extract and Vanilla Bean Paste, it should not concern those with sensitivities or allergies. However, always check your product label carefully before making any purchases to ensure no additional ingredients that may contain gluten have been added.
What Is The Difference Between Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and Regular Vanilla?
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla includes some of the finest gourmet Vanilla beans available. It comes specifically from the cured vanilla pod of the vanilla planifolia species of orchid, which has been grown for generations on the island of Madagascar. This particular type of Vanilla has a strong, sweet, yet mellow flavor that adds complexity to recipes of all kinds.
The unique aspect of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, aside from being perfectly creamy and full of velvety after tones, is that unlike most other Vanilla, which is pollinated by bees, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla needs to be pollinated by humans through a precise and labor-intensive process that has been handed down through generations of the Malagasy smallholder farmers. These farmers are our neighbors and partners, and they provide LAFAZA the unique and special opportunity to share with you the authentic taste of their biodiverse and beautiful island, Madagascar.
How Long Does Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Last?
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract and Paste can last up to two years if stored in a cool, dark place. Ground Vanilla and vanilla beans can last up to one year when stored similarly. We recommend storing your Madagascar bourbon vanilla products in airtight containers away from light and heat sources to maximize freshness and flavor.
Where Can I buy Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla?
You can purchase Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla from various local stores, including supermarkets, natural health food stores, and specialty retailers. But you can also buy Madagascar bourbon vanilla right here, nearly direct from the smallholder farmers in Madagascar.
To ensure quality and sustainability, if you have to buy elsewhere, we recommend looking for products certified by the Non-GMO Project or USDA Organic programs. We also suggest considering suppliers committed to fair wages and supporting the communities and ecosystems where your Vanilla is grown.
Where Can I Buy Bulk Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla?
You can purchase bulk Madagascar Vanilla right here, nearly direct from the smallholder farmers in Madagascar. We offer whole Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Extract, and Ground Vanilla Bean Powder as Non-Gmo Verified and USDA Organic Certified bulk sizes.
By buying directly from LAFAZA, you get great-tasting and sustainably produced vanilla products at a fraction of the cost - you also join us in supporting the Malagasy smallholder farmers and the local communities that benefit from the economic opportunities of vanilla farming. Shopping with LAFAZA is a commitment to sustainability, quality, and community. Shop now for bulk Madagascar Vanilla!
Vanilla Tips & Conversions
Vanilla Tips & Conversions
Looking for a quick conversion to substitute Vanilla Extract or Ground Vanilla to Bourbon Vanilla Beans? We've put together some resources along with great recipes that work perfectly to show off the rich and complex flavors of Bourbon Vanilla.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade vanilla extract requires just three simple ingredients and a few weeks of waiting. The trick? Patience! Gathering high-quality Bourbon Vanilla beans, premium alcohol, and a container in which to store it is all that you’ll need for this fun DIY project.
Vanilla Sustainability
Vanilla Sustainability
Notice the dense green forest behind this Vanilla planifolia orchid? Rather than large, mono-cropped plantations, LAFAZA vanilla comes from independent, small-holder farmers whose dense agroforestry systems act much more like a healthy forest, providing habitat and supporting rich biodiversity.
