Know your Vanilla Beans
If you think that buying vanilla is simply a matter of taking a bottle off the shelf of your local grocery store, well, you’re in for a bit of a surprise. Purchasing the “right” vanilla is as complex as the flavor itself, but relax; we can help.
For starters, there are a number of different types of vanilla in the marketplace today, the differences based largely on what part of the world in which they’re grown. But of all the vanillas in the world, two stand out: Tahitensis Vanilla and Planifolia Vanilla.
Tahitian and Planifolia vanilla beans are the two most popular varieties of vanilla in the world, and like all vanillas, both are sold as beans, paste, powder, and extract. Tahitian Vanilla beans are produced from the Vanilla Tahitensis species of orchid and are grown throughout the French Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific, including Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Bourbon beans are produced from the Vanilla Planifolia species of vanilla orchid and are grown in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Uganda, Madagascar, and Tanzania.
Bourbon Planifolia Vanilla
The Bourbon Planifolia variety of vanilla bean is known for its distinctive aroma, complex flavor, and its mellow creaminess, making it the ideal bean for baking, as well as flavoring flans, gelato, icings, and ice creams.
These beans are rich with flavor and aromatic qualities that make these beans one of the most popular and sought-after vanilla variety. The beans are long and slender with a very rich taste and aroma, with undertones that are often described as “rich, sweet, and “buttery,” with hints of dried fruit and caramel. Bourbon Planifolia vanilla beans are primarily used in cooking and most commonly used to flavor ice cream, baked goods, chocolate, and other sweets. A few of those baking recipes can be found on the Native Vanilla website.
Tahitian Vanilla Beans
The Tahitian Vanilla variety of vanilla bean is known for its rich, floral, fruity, cherry-like flavor. The Vanilla Tahitensis of Papua New Guinea are also known for their stunning appearance. These beans are plump, pungent, and rich in oil, with a gorgeously thick black outer pod. Tahitian vanilla pairs particularly well with spring berries, and tropical fruits. The beans, or pods, are shorter and broader than their Bourbon Planifolia cousins. Because the flavor compounds of Tahitian Vanilla are more susceptible to heat than Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, Tahitian Vanilla is best used in foods that don't require intense heat to prepare, such as for short-bake and no-bake recipes. According to oureverydaylife.com, “Tahitian vanilla beans are usually paired with delicate desserts, such as fruit-based items, ice creams, and custards. Tahitian vanilla beans are best used in foods that don't require intense heat to prepare.”
Grade A or Grade B?
Now, as you shop for these beans, you’re going to run across product names such as “Gourmet vanilla beans from Madagascar” or “Grade A Bourbon Planifolia vanilla beans”. So, it’s helpful to know what some of these terms mean. For starters, a Grade A bean is considered a Gourmet bean. Grade A or Gourmet beans are generally six to seven inches in length and longer, with a moisture content of 30-35 percent. By contrast, a Grade B or “extraction grade” bean – so called because it is best used in making vanilla extract – is typically shorter in length (less than 5”), is not as “wholesome in appearance,” and not quite as moist.
Understanding how beans are graded will help you choose the bean that is right for your purposes. For the best beans, extracts, and powders in the world, as well as to learn more about cooking with vanilla or buy to buy vanilla gifts, visit nativevanilla.com