The worlds most valuable bean: the history of vanilla beans

The story of Vanilla unfolds in Mexico, the birthplace of vanilla. It was here, in South America, where the Vanilla orchid and a tiny bee were discovered as part of a symbiotic relationship. The Melipona bee is native to this area of South America and is the only known natural pollinator to the vanilla orchid plant.

It was not until 1841 on the French Island of Reunion in the Indian ocean, that a 12-year-old slave by the name of Edmond Albius, discovered how to hand pollinate the vanilla orchid and thus, the history of vanilla beans in the marketplace began. A new chapter in the global spice trade opened up and allowed for a valuable commodity to begin its worldwide obsession and the rise of Madagascar Vanilla beans.

The green vanilla beans in the picture above are vanilla planifolia. This is the most widely produced vanilla in the world—Madagascar being the top producer—but other countries have begun producing equal or better quality vanilla beans.

The vanilla beans we decided to share are our Ugandan Bourbon Vanilla beans.  We had the pleasure of watching these vanilla beans develop all the way to maturity and then along the process of being harvested, cured, and nurtured into grade A gourmet vanilla.  We are so thankful for the farmers, the curers, and the communities involved in the vanilla production as well as the opportunities it provides in some of the most remote places in the world for these communities.  It's just a small role but something we are grateful to be a part of.