Description
These certified organic gourmet vanilla beans come from near Tamazunchale, Mexico, and are produced by the Tlilixochitle group. Our source for them is located in Vermont, USDA certified organic, and specializes in working with indigenous micro-producers through fair labor practices.
The vanilla plant originated in Mexico,and therefore Mexican vanilla is the only kind in the world to to be naturally pollinated by native insects vs hand-pollinated, thus resulting in beans that are bigger and more aromatic than any other variety.
French colonizers were the ones responsible for importing the production of vanilla to the then French-colony of Madagascar and inventing the hand-pollination method necessary for the plant to reproduce without its natural pollinators. As a consequence, Madagascar and Indonesia are nowadays the biggest producers of vanilla in the world. However, if you are looking for the real, natural thing, Mexican vanilla is the only way to go,
Vanilla beans are ideal to use to make your own extract, or for when you really want to go the extra mile for your baking confections. Slice open one side of the bean vertically and immerse in alcohol for extract, or scrape the seeds from the bean if you need to use them for baking, usually by simmering the seeds and pod in milk for custards and the like. The external bean (if not simmered), can be put in a closed jar with regular sugar for a couple of months, to obtain vanilla-flavored sugar. Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Available in 1 or 3 whole beans.
