Bourbon vanilla is neither a brand nor a flavor: it is Vanilla planifolia grown on the islands of the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar, and cured using the Bourbon method. The name comes from Île Bourbon, the former name of Réunion Island, where vanilla growing took off in the 19th century.
Where does the name “Bourbon vanilla” come from?
Vanilla is an orchid native to Mexico. Outside its native range, it flowers but produces almost no beans: the insect that pollinates it does not live anywhere else. In 1841, on Île Bourbon, Edmond Albius, a twelve-year-old enslaved boy, worked out a simple technique for pollinating the flower by hand. That technique, still used today, is what made it possible to grow vanilla in the Indian Ocean.
The island has since been renamed and is now called Réunion, but the name stuck: Bourbon vanilla refers to the Vanilla planifolia of the Indian Ocean islands, mainly Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoros.
Vanilla planifolia: the species behind the name
There are several species of vanilla, but the most widely grown in the world is Vanilla planifolia. This is the one called Bourbon vanilla when it comes from the Indian Ocean. It is also grown elsewhere, notably in Mexico, Indonesia, Uganda, Papua New Guinea and India; it then takes the name of its country of origin.
The word “Bourbon” also refers to a way of curing vanilla, the Bourbon method: scalding in hot water, sweating, sun drying and shade drying, then conditioning. This long, entirely manual process is what turns a scentless green pod into a brown, supple, aromatic vanilla bean.
Bourbon vanilla or Tahitian vanilla?
| Bourbon vanilla | Tahitian vanilla | |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Vanilla planifolia | Vanilla tahitensis |
| Origin | Indian Ocean, including Madagascar | French Polynesia |
| Aroma | Rounded, rich, woody | More floral, often described as anise-like |
| Common uses | Custards, ice cream, pastry, extracts | Desserts where a floral note is wanted |
Both are real vanilla. Bourbon vanilla is the classic standard in pastry; Tahitian vanilla, which is rarer, is prized for its different fragrance.
Why Madagascar dominates the Bourbon vanilla market
Madagascar is the world’s leading vanilla producer. The hot, humid climate of its northeast coast suits vanilla, and the know-how of hand pollination and curing is passed down from generation to generation in producer families. As everywhere, the price of vanilla there varies widely from one harvest to the next: we explain it in our guide to vanilla bean prices.
Our Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar
Our vanilla comes from producer families in the region from Mananara Nord to Maroantsetra, on the northeast coast of Madagascar. They grow Vanilla planifolia and cure it themselves using the traditional Bourbon method. In Antananarivo, our team continues the conditioning: sorting bean by bean, additional drying, massaging, then vacuum sealing. Our story
- Black Gourmet vanilla beans, Grade A, certified organic: 15 to 22 cm long, from the 5-bean pack to the 5 kg size.
- Vanilla caviar, certified organic: the pure seeds of the vanilla bean, in 40 g and 100 g tins.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bourbon vanilla?
It is Vanilla planifolia grown on the islands of the Indian Ocean, mainly Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoros, and cured using the Bourbon method.
Does Bourbon vanilla come from Réunion?
Its name does: Île Bourbon is the former name of Réunion. But today, most Bourbon vanilla is produced in Madagascar.
What is the difference between Bourbon vanilla and Tahitian vanilla?
They are two different species: Vanilla planifolia for Bourbon, with a rounded, rich fragrance, and Vanilla tahitensis for Tahitian, with a more floral fragrance.
Does Bourbon vanilla have anything to do with bourbon whiskey?
No. The vanilla takes its name from Île Bourbon; bourbon whiskey takes its name from a region of Kentucky, in the United States.
Sources
- Fondation pour la mémoire de l’esclavage: Edmond Albius, biography (hand pollination of vanilla, 1841, Île Bourbon, now Réunion).
- franceinfo (AFP): Vanilla: the ups and downs of Malagasy production (Madagascar, world’s leading producer).
- FAO: Madagascar’s vanilla industry (in English).