Chieftain^® Wild Rice Company

VANILLA BEANS, BOURBON

Description:
Vanilla Beans, (Vanilla Planifolia) are the seed of the climbing orchid, originally from southern Mexico. When the Spanish arrived in Central and South America, the Aztecs were already using vanilla as a flavoring agent for drinks. European entrepreneurs tried to establish commercial plantations in the far east from samples of the wild Mexican orchids. The initial attempts were not successful due to lack of pollination. The solution was discovered on the island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean. A slender piece of bamboo was used to lift away a membrane that allowed a worker to smear pollen bearing stamens against the pistils. This technique is still used today. Planifolia vanilla beans have a rich sweet flavor, are the most common vanilla bean found in the market. They are grown in Madagascar, Comoro & Reunion Islands.

Suggested Use:
Vanilla is a great flavoring for chocolate, coffee, ice cream, cakes, cookies, fruit desserts and most sweet dishes. Surprisingly, a small amount of Vanilla is good with certain rich dishes such as lobster or veal. The beans are added to the food and then removed prior to serving.