How to Make Vanilla Extract
An easy to follow guide to making vanilla extract in your own kitchen
Why Buy Loose Cut Red Extraction Vanilla Beans
Great Value
These loose cut, spilt and dry vanilla beans from Madagascar are a great value that is available in bulk and can support small and large batch extraction at good price point
Low Moisture
These vanilla beans are dry and you can see it in the red variegation of the vanilla beans. While they may not be pretty to some users, less moisture means less additional water added to your extraction that dilutes the average proof of your solvent.
Used By Professionals
These vanilla beans are use by large and small establishments to produce large batch vanilla extract or ground into whole vanilla bean powder
Classic Vanilla
Vanilla from Madagascar is that classic vanilla flavor profile that is preferred by consumers worldwide and considered the standard in vanilla
Technical Specifications
| Origin | Madagascar |
|---|---|
| Species | Vanilla planifolia (Bourbon Vanilla) |
| Grade | Industrial, Red Type, Unclassified, Commercial Extraction |
| Also Known As | Vanilla Splits, Cut Vanilla Beans, Red Type Vanilla |
| Moisture Content | 15-16.2% or less |
| Vanillin Content | 0.95-1.3% |
| Certifications | Kosher, GMP |
| Harvest | Hand-Harvested July-September, 3-6 Month Curing Process |
| Flavor Profile | Sweet, Creamy, Buttery |
| Tasting Notes | Subtle Chocolate, Classic Vanilla |
| Uses | Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Powder, Commercial Flavor Applications, Brewing |
| Pairing | Chocolate, Coffee, Baked Goods, Dairy |
| Best For | Extract Makers, Commercial Buyers, High-Volume Production |
| Shelf Life | 24-36 Months |
| Packaging | Lightly Sealed or Bulk Bags, Food-Grade |
Bulk red vanilla bean cuts from Madagascar
Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans for commercial use
Facts about our loose vanilla bean cuts from Madagascar
Things to know about Madagascar vanilla
An Industrial class bourbon type of vanilla beans
While most people think of gourmet vanilla when they think of Madagascar vanilla, the truth is, more than eighty percent of all vanilla world wide is actually a red type vanilla beans. It is the red vanilla that is generally used by manufactures of vanilla extract because the vanilla beans are lower in moisture content, contain more vanilla beans per pound and better suited to their purposes of making vanilla extract or other vanilla based product.
Facts about our loose vanilla bean cuts from Madagascar
- Country of origin: Madagascar
- Type or class of vanilla bean: Industrial, red type vanilla, split vanilla beans
- Moisture content for vanilla: 15-16.2 percent
- Vanillin content: 0.95-1.3 percent
- Shelf life: 24-36 months
- Aroma: characteristic of vanilla from Madagascar; pleasant vanilla aroma with sweet, creamy, and butter notes, subtle chocolate undertones
Madagascar Vanilla Beans
Vanilla beans in Madagascar are harvested once annually during the months of July through September when vanilla is ripe in different vanilla growing regions within Madagascar. Vanilla is grown in light but shaded conditions and interwoven directly in forests and maintained by local villages in the area. Upon harvest it takes an average of three to six months for vanilla to be fully dried and conditioned for export.
There species of vanilla beans of vanilla beans can be found growing in Madagascar. The most well known is commonly referred to as Bourbon vanilla. This species of vanilla comes from the vanilla Planifolia orchid and also grown in other Indian ocean countries such as Comoros, Reunion (formerly known as the Bourbon island), Uganda and more.
The two other species of vanilla that can be found growing in Madagascar are Vanilla Pompona Glandiflora and vanilla Tsy Taitra.
Madagascar supplies eighty percent of the worlds vanilla and while other growing regions in the world have experienced a bit of a boom in recent years due the the fluctuations in prices caused by weather, low yields, poor flowering and other root causes,
Madagascar vanilla still remains the top choice for premium quality vanilla. The volume, quality, and technical proficiency of the Malagasy culture ensure Madagascar will remain the leader in vanilla cultivation and preperation for years to come.
Looking for gourmet Madagascar vanilla in bulk? You can find all of our grade A vanilla beans in our gourmet vanilla collection featuring some of the finest vanilla beans source from regions across the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Loose-cut vanilla beans, also called vanilla splits or industrial-class vanilla, are Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans (Vanilla planifolia) that don't meet the length or cosmetic standards for gourmet classification. The term 'loose-cut' refers to the mixed nature of the product itself, a combination of loose whole beans, split beans, and cut pieces, rather than a uniform, pre-processed format. They're commonly used by extract makers and commercial buyers rather than for whole-bean culinary presentation.
- Red type refers to a classification within Madagascar's vanilla industry based on curing method and appearance, and it represents the majority, more than 80%, of vanilla produced worldwide. Our loose-cut beans are red type, offering the same authentic Bourbon vanilla flavor as gourmet-grade beans at a lower cost due to their smaller size and mixed form.
- Our Madagascar loose-cut vanilla beans have a vanillin content of approximately 0.95-1.3%, a specific technical figure that reflects genuine vanilla flavor potency. Vanillin is the primary aromatic compound responsible for vanilla's signature flavor, making this figure especially useful for commercial buyers and extract makers who need predictable results at scale.
- No, they're a different classification, not a lower grade of flavor. These beans didn't meet gourmet sizing or cosmetic standards, but they're the same species and curing process as gourmet Madagascar vanilla. For extract-making, powder production, and most commercial applications, loose-cut beans perform just as effectively as whole gourmet beans at a significantly lower cost.
- Yes. Despite the name, 'loose-cut' describes the mixed composition of the product, whole beans, splits, and cut pieces, not a fully processed, ready-to-steep format. For best extraction efficiency, we recommend further chopping or cutting the beans into smaller pieces before steeping in alcohol, which increases surface area and helps extract flavor more thoroughly and evenly.
- Yes. In addition to Madagascar, we carry Comoros loose extraction vanilla, mixed-origin vanilla bean cuts, and unclassified Papua New Guinea vanilla.





