Vanilla Beans

The ideal form is in their natural state, in other words, as pods. Though commonly referred to as vanilla “beans,” because they do contain beans, they actually grow as the pod from a type of orchid. They are originally from the Gulf Coast of Mexico, but are also grown in Tahiti, Madagascar, and Indonesia, where the quality can be outstanding. Other, lesser known, vanilla-growing countries are India, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and even the United States (Florida).

There are close to 150 varieties of vanilla pods that grow in tropical climates around the world, but Bourbon and Tahitian are the most widely used.