Mexico - the birthplace of vanilla
First discovered in Mexico and a secret of the Totoac Indians for possibly generations, the modern day vanilla bean is now grown and cultivated in many regions of the world outside of its original birthplace of Mexico. Most commonly vanilla beans now come from Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Tahiti and Uganda. While other areas of the world also grow vanilla beans the most ideal conditions are 10- 20 degrees of the equator.
Madagascar Vanilla Beans
The birth of hand pollination for vanilla cultivation, Madagascar and the surrounding islands off the coast of Africa known as the Bourbon islands unleashed a world of opportunity for vanilla worldwide. Madagascar to this day, still continues to dominate the worlds supply of high quality vanilla beans that are sweet, creamy and mellow in flavor
Tahiti - a new species of vanilla is born
A rich tropical climate, and the successful crossbreeding of Vanilla aromatica and Vanilla fragrans that was imported to the island resulted in the modern day Tahitian vanilla beans known as vanilla tahitensis. While vanilla tahitensis is now grown in Papua New Guinea and several other areas of the world, it is Vanilla from Tahiti that continues to be referred to as the queen of vanilla with flavor notes described as floral, cherry and almond like.