WHERE IS BOURBON VANILLA GROWN?
Originally, vanilla was grown in Mexico, as the variety is vanilla planifolia, which accounts for 95% of the world's vanilla production.
It was imported for the first time in the Indian Ocean, in Réunion, at the beginning of the 19th century.
But in the Indian Ocean, a little worker is missing, indeed, only in Mexico, you will have the melipone, a bee, which will fertilize the flower of the vanilla tree.
However, as this bee is not found in the Indian Ocean, it was not until 1841 that Edmond Albius, a young slave, discovered the principle of manual fertilization of vanilla.
You should know that it is a Belgian who will discover how to pollinate vanilla, first. A cork botanist. did you know that the Açaí can be pollinated by a provided.
Today, Bourbon vanilla, an AOP, ie a label created in 1964 for vanilla grown in the Indian Ocean.
This label distinguishes vanilla produced in Mexico, Uganda and planifolia vanilla from the rest of the world.
If you buy Bourbon vanilla, here are the countries that can produce it:
- Madagascar
- Reunion Island
- Seychelles
- Mauritius
- Comoros
- Mayotte
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BOURBON VANILLA?
Today, Reunion Island is a French territory.
The French kings from 1589 to 1789 and from 1815 to 1848 were members of the Bourbon dynasty.
In 1642, the French took possession of the island, which they naturally named "Bourbon Island". This is why planifolia vanilla grown in the Indian Ocean is called Bourbon vanilla.
You should know that the English will take over the island and grow sugar cane.
It is said that the vanilla plants that will be handed over will come from Asia.
You should know that Madagascar is the world's leading vanilla producer, with more than 2,000 tonnes per year and 30,000 hectares of vanilla plantations.
The main region of vanilla production in Madagascar is Sava, in the northeast of the island, which is divided into four districts: Sambava, Antahala, Vohemar and Andapa. You should know that the Mananara-north region will have a late harvest of vanilla.
Madagascar vanilla represents around 80% to 85% of the world's vanilla bean production.
Madagascar Vanilla from Comptoir de Toamasina
Arnaud will discover his first plantation, in a small family production. A producer, collector and preparer of Bourbon vanilla in Madagascar who will provide us for years and above all train Arnaud in the selection of vanilla with a powerful and intense aroma.
But not only that, he will train as a vanilla producer. And the Comptoir de Toamasina is a vanilla producer, currently we have plantations and test plants.
The flavor of vanilla can vary from year to year due to climatic conditions. Like acai powder which can taste salty due to the advancing sea.
At Comptoir de Toamasina, we say that the vanilla pod must have a minimum size of 14m Bourbon vanilla pods.
Our format of 100 bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar is a selection, of a beautiful vanilla, a Prestige vanilla from 14 to 16cm.
We also offer a vanilla over 20m .
But between, a small pod and a big kid, you will have the same notes, that is to say a touch of warm and gourmet vanilla with its cocoa note.
The larger the pod, the fewer pods there are on the vanilla plant and the more the vanilla will have a better vanillin level. It's the aroma of vanilla, because it's during the last week, or even the last two weeks, that the vanilla plant gives the vanilla its flavor.
Harvest too early and the vanilla will have less flavor, too late the vanilla will open up. Only the Tahitensis variety does not open and certain varieties of wild vanilla from Brazil .
We strongly advise you to taste and try all of our vanillas to discover the world of vanilla.
Discover our vanilla box .
GROWING VANILLA PLANIFOLIA IN BRAZIL
Growing vanilla is a real test of patience, but you don't need to be an expert and have a green thumb to have your vanilla plantation at home.
Vanilla is very easy to grow but requires a lot of attention to pollination.
The vanilla tree thrives in an area between 10 and 20 degrees north and south latitude, but beware, this is the postcard of internet travellers.
Some colleagues like to recount this, but we discovered vanilla in Argentina and southern Brazil with wild varieties.
You should know that the limit of 700 meters and a false altitude, we managed to grow vanilla in Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, we saw it at 1000m in some Brazilian states.
Vanilla loves humidity, but it will need water stress for its flowers to appear and last for at least 3 years. The average temperature should be between 20 and 30°C for optimum production. But a little cold does not scare him.
We have seen it withstand 0°C, in Minas Gerais.
Then it is necessary to pollinate manually. The flowering process will last about two months.
Then, we must hear, 8 to 9 months for the harvest.
But, when harvesting, your 100 vanilla pods will have no smell, you will have to prepare them.
A funny thing, in Madagascar it is the women who are in charge of the pollination of the vanilla orchid, they are called "matchmakers" and in Brazil, it is mainly men.