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Absolute Rarity
The rarest beans in the world. A confidential production from the unique biodiversity of the Cerrado and Bahia.
Pioneer in France
Le Comptoir de Toamasina is the first vanilla counter to officially market these Grand Crus in France.
Direct Sourcing
Selected by Arnaud Sion, who traveled by pickup truck on Brazilian dirt roads to meet small producers.
Buying and selling Brazilian vanilla beans from the Cerrado and Bahia regions.
We offer you a terroir that produces one of the best vanilla beans in the world, equivalent to the French Grand Cru. Arnaud Sion, the creator of Le Comptoir de Toamasina, hit the Brazilian roads with his pickup truck in search of new flavors. His quest led him to Cerrado vanilla, a rare, excellent vanilla with incomparable wild and floral notes.
Need advice on these exceptional vanillas? Contact us directly via WhatsApp:
+55 31 986320399
A Botanical Treasure: Cerrado Grand Cru Vanilla
As a specialist in importing the best vanilla beans from Brazil, Le Comptoir de Toamasina is proud to present the Cerrado Grand Cru.
Forget everything you know about vanilla. Here, we are not talking about the classic Planifolia found everywhere. The Cerrado region (the Brazilian savanna) is home to a unique biodiversity. In this wild ecosystem, there is not one, but four major species of vanilla orchids:
Brazil's Biodiversity: The 4 Rare Species
- Vanilla Edwalli (Banana Vanilla): The star of the Cerrado. From yellow orchids, this elongated bean looks like a small banana and can reach up to 30 cm long.
- Vanilla Chamissonis: A wild and robust vanilla, with tangy and floral notes.
- Vanilla Dubia: An endemic species undergoing preservation.
- Vanilla Pompona: Known for its intense notes of coumarin (tonka bean).
Botany: A Maturation Unique in the World
Unlike Madagascar vanilla which is blanched (scalded), Cerrado vanilla follows a natural cycle. It takes 9 full months after pollination for the bean to reach maturity.
At this stage, a unique phenomenon occurs: the bean does not dry out, it naturally becomes oily and shiny on the vine. This is the sign that it is bursting with aromatic essential oils.
A Human Adventure: At the end of the dirt road
This vanilla must be earned. It is a bean that is literally off the beaten path. To get to the plantation, you have to leave the asphalt and travel miles of red dirt roads through the savanna.
It is there, far from intensive agriculture, that we find our partner producers: Celino, David, José, and Maria. Since 2018, we have been working hand in hand with them to market this high-end vanilla. Quantities are confidential: we only have a few kilos each year. It is a real treasure hunt.
Classification: Understanding "Grand Cru" Quality
As with fine wines, Cerrado vanilla comes in several qualities depending on its harvest stage and aging:
Red Vanilla
Drier, ideal for extracts.
TK Vanilla
An intermediate quality.
Gourmet, the grand cru of chefs
The pinnacle. A plump, oily, immense bean (sometimes 30cm), with an aromatic power that mixes floral, acidic, and sometimes earthy or smoky notes.
Explore our other Exceptional Vanillas
If the rarity of Brazil has seduced you, discover our other terroirs selected with the same exacting standards:
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Brazilian vanilla different from others?
It does not come from the classic Vanilla planifolia, but from rare species endemic to the Brazilian savanna (Edwalli, Chamissonis, Dubia, Pompona). Its notes are more floral, acidic, with sometimes touches of tonka bean (coumarin).
Why isn't Cerrado vanilla scalded?
It follows a 100% natural maturation process. After 9 months on the vine, it does not dry out but naturally becomes black, oily, and shiny, bursting with essential oils. There is therefore no need to soak it in hot water.
What is the difference between Red Vanilla, TK Vanilla, and Gourmet?
Red Vanilla is drier, ideal for extracts. TK Vanilla is an intermediate quality. Gourmet (the grand cru of chefs) is the pinnacle, a plump and oily bean with floral, acidic, and sometimes smoky notes.
How to use Pompona or Edwalli vanilla?
Their very powerful and woody aromatic profile excels in infused rums, spirits, savory dishes, or in a long cold infusion for high-gastronomy creams.
@Any reproduction of the text is prohibited without the authorization of Le Comptoir de Toamasina.