Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans

Here, every Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean begins with a flower hand-pollinated on our vines in the SAVA region. Bourbon vanilla is the name given to the Vanilla planifolia species, grown across the Indian Ocean; Madagascar is the world's leading producer.

Our family grows and prepares this Madagascar vanilla from the plantation through to shipping, with no middleman. Our article on choosing the right Bourbon vanilla covers every criterion in detail.

Which vanilla for which use

Vanilla shouldn't be chosen at random: each grade suits a precise use. Full detail in our article on the four grades of vanilla.

Size decides everything

Sold individually, as whole beans, we sell only Gourmet Grade A. Size changes the number of seeds per bean and how easy it is to work with, never the variety or the harvest.

To stock a kitchen, the pack of 10 beans, size of your choice works out cheaper per unit, and the large glass tube of 10 beans keeps them supple in a cupboard. To compare the four lengths side by side, there's the four-size gift set.

When you'd rather not split a bean, the same harvest is also available as vanilla caviar, the seeds and pulp without the pod, as vanilla powder and as vanilla extract, for spreading through a recipe without infusing.

Recognising a good bean

• Uniform dark brown, with no light patches or spots.
• Supple enough to wrap around a finger without breaking.
• Slightly oily to the touch, never dry or brittle.
• A clear, distinct scent as soon as the bean is held near the nose.

A white bloom on the surface isn't a flaw: it's crystallised vanillin, a sign of a well-conditioned bean. Mould is fuzzy, green or grey, and smells musty. A bean that's too dry tears under the blade, with the seeds stuck inside.

Buying direct from the producer, what it changes

We sell direct from our plantation in the SAVA region, with no middleman, and ship it ourselves from France. Between the hand-pollinated flower and the sorted bean, there are months of killing, sweating, sun- then shade-drying, and conditioning in trunks.

Buying direct from the producer means you can ask a question about a specific harvest and get an answer from the family who grew it. Our customers rate us 5.0 out of 5, from 95 verified reviews.

How much does a vanilla bean cost

On the Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans product page, the price per bean is shown against each size: from 1.90 € for S to 4.90 € for XL. The longer the bean, the more seeds it carries: that's the whole difference between an S size and an XL size. We explain what sits behind this price in what a vanilla bean really costs. For trade customers, tiered per-kilo pricing applies from 1 kg.

Storing your beans

Keep your beans in their resealed pouch or in a glass tube, at room temperature, away from air, light and moisture, never in the refrigerator. Stored this way, they keep for years: our article storing and preparing your vanilla beans covers every step.

Pompona, Madagascar's other vanilla

The collection also includes Pompona vanilla, a species distinct from Bourbon: beans of 20 to 25 cm, thick and fleshy, with a floral, aniseed and fruity palette. It doesn't fit into the Bourbon grade table, and our quantities are limited.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Bourbon vanilla and Pompona vanilla?

Bourbon vanilla comes from Vanilla planifolia, the species most widely grown in Madagascar. Pompona vanilla is a distinct species, with longer, fleshier beans and a floral, aniseed and fruity palette. Both come from the SAVA region, but Pompona doesn't fit into the Bourbon grade table and our quantities of it are limited.

How much does a Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean cost?

On our Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans product page, the price per bean ranges from 1.90 € for size S to 4.90 € for size XL. The price is shown against each size. Tiered per-kilo pricing is available for trade customers.

What do the Gourmet A, TK, Rouge and Cuts grades mean?

These are four sortings of the same Bourbon vanilla, not tasting notes. Gourmet Grade A is the only grade sold individually as whole beans, for pastry work where the bean is split and the seeds scraped out. The TK, Rouge US/EUR and Cuts grades serve infusing, extraction and industry, in trade-volume tiers.

How can you recognise a good-quality vanilla bean?

A good bean is uniform dark brown, supple enough to wrap around a finger without breaking, and slightly oily to the touch. Its scent is clear and distinct. A white bloom on the surface is a good sign: it's crystallised vanillin, never mould.

How quickly does my order ship, and is delivery free?

We ship within 48 hours, with tracking. Delivery is free from 30 € of purchase to a pickup point, within mainland France.

To go further, discover our guide to Pompona vanilla.

Before you buy, read our full guide: Bourbon Vanilla Beans from Madagascar, the complete buying guide.