There is no such thing as plain vanilla.

Vanilla is one of the most complex ingredients we can add to our food. Vanilla is similar to wine in that when grown in different regions, different distinguishing flavors emerge. Vanilla has long been associated with simplicity and referred to as “plain.” This is unfortunate, because as many of us know, there is nothing simple about cultivating and tasting vanilla.

Vanilla is an orchid which can only be cultivated in a band 15 degrees north and south of the equator. Vanilla is a complex, labor-intensive crop that takes time and patience. It takes 3-5 years before newly planted vines can flower and bear fruit. Once the vines are old enough to flower, there is still only one month when the vine’s flowers open briefly during the day. Each bloom has to be hand-pollinated the day it opens to produce the fruited green vanilla pods. After fruiting, the beans remain on the vine for 6-9 months before being harvested. They then undergo the crucial curing process of soaking, sweating, and drying the beans to mature the flavor. Curing takes anywhere from 6-7 months depending on the type beans and regional practices. This process produces the miraculous shiny wrinkled brown aromatic vanilla bean that we all adore.

All beans from our trusted farms are hand-selected and tested for uniformity.

Experts at Elan can help provide guidance on what is the best vanilla flavor profile based on your application.