When visiting the Vanilla Islands, a vanilla-producing country, it is tempting to bring back a few vanilla pods.
In Brazil, you will find vanilla of very good quality, because the producers can sell it more expensive on the national market than for export.
In Madagascar, you have export dates and often on the local market you find old batches and the best batches.
But never buy vanilla and spices on the markets during your travels in the producing countries but rather in cooperatives. Even in Guadeloupe during a trip in 2014, we have very strange things on a market.
You should know that all vanilla growers will try to produce high quality vanilla.
But as with pepper, for example, the extra quality is totally exported and the little that remains is sold at the French market price, for example.
The same example for gourmet type coffee, coffee from Minas Gerais which is one of the best in the world but if you want gourmet quality you will have to pay the price.
The problem in the producing countries you do not know who is the producer or exporter preparer. An uninitiated will so lose.
We see vanilla that is sold vacuum-packed and this practice is prohibited because it stops the ripening process of the vanilla.
Some travelers have returned from Madagascar with a large number of pods in order to stock up on vanilla, only to find soon after that their vanilla will turn from gourmet to red due to poor preparation.
If you want to buy vanilla on site, discover the Comptoir de Toamasina videos to buy high quality vanilla pods during your travels abroad and especially discover the ranger expedition, the most beautiful trip to Brazil.