Craftsmanship & producers
Quick answer: Vanille Désiré works directly with producer families in Vangaindrano, in southeastern Madagascar. Three generations, an uncompromising know-how passed down, and a short chain from vine to shipment.
Craftsmanship is not a marketing claim for us: it is the story of a family and a village. What you find in our beans is the result of precise gestures that can only be learned hands-on.
The story of Désiré
It all began in the 1960s in Vangaindrano. Désiré, a young Malagasy, watched his father grow vanilla in the forest understory. He learned the gestures: spotting the flower ready to open, pollinating at the right moment, sensing ripeness. That quiet, unwritten transmission became the foundation of the family business.
Three generations of producers
Today the farm is run by Désiré's children and grandchildren. Each generation has brought something: rigor, organization, openness to export, and above all respect for long timelines. Vanilla cannot be rushed.
From the vine to the curing trunk
Vanilla is worked in five major stages: planting (3 to 4 years before the first flower), hand pollination (every flower, by hand, within a window of a few hours), harvest at 9 months, blanching and sweating, then curing in trunks for 6 to 9 months. Every stage counts; every stage is done by hand at our farm.
Why manual work
No machine can replace the eye and hand of an experienced producer. Sorting beans, sensing the humidity of a trunk, adjusting a drying session because the day is more humid than expected: these micro-decisions make the difference between a good vanilla and an exceptional one.
A short, transparent chain
We buy directly from the families, with no middlemen. We pay fair prices that allow the local industry to thrive. Shipments to France are made in controlled batches, with quality control on arrival.
Our commitment to the village
A share of our revenue supports the village school. Not as a one-off project, but over the long term: supplies, meals, small maintenance work. It is our way of staying rooted where it all began.
Frequently asked questions
Are you organic? Part of our production is. Organic certification in Madagascar is a long journey, which we are pursuing step by step.
Can you trace every bean? Yes, down to the harvest area and the producing family.
Are visits possible? We welcome professional partners on site, by appointment. We also regularly document the work in photos and video.
Going further
Discover the full story of Désiré, and our Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar born of this short chain.
See also: the Vanille Désiré wiki and Bourbon Planifolia vanilla.
