Bourbon vanilla beans also referred to as Vanilla Planifolia from Uganda have really broke out as the superstar of the vanilla culture. These vanilla beans are amazing. Their earthy aroma is bold with warm note of smooth milk chocolate.
Made from whole ground Vanilla beans (vanilla planifolia) from Madagacar. Vanilla bean for this grade of vanilla powder have been specifically chosen for their flavor and aromatic properties. Ground vanilla beans can be used to add flavor and visual appeal to ice cream, baked goods, or custards.
Grade A vanilla beans from Madagascar are commonly referred to as Bourbon vanilla beans. A common misconception is that dishes containing “bourbon vanilla”, call for both bourbon and vanilla. Bourbon Vanilla Bean commonly references the specific variety of vanilla produced from the vanilla planifolia species of vanilla orchid.
The Totonacs of Veracruz are known as one of the first people to harvest and use vanilla beans. The first attempts to uproot and transfer vanilla plants didn’t end well. Vanilla beans were finally grown in other locations when one person realized that a bamboo shoot could be used to pollinate flowers by hand.
Pompona vanilla from Madagascar is not a pure Pompona bean but rather a hybrid of Pompona and Planifolia vanilla that happened after many decades of these orchids growing side by side. Pompona vanilla bean pods, a species of vanilla orchid long forgotten but now sought after by vanilla enthusiasts when making vanilla extract.