Welcome to The Vanilla Pod Store.
We only sell Gourmet Black Bourbon pods, Vanilla planifolia.
We import directly from the Sava region in Northern Madagascar.
Our vanilla pods are the best and most competitively priced in the UK.
Gourmet Black Bourbon pods
£16.50
Our hand-selected, and raffia bundled, Gourmet Black Bourbon pods are supple and oily, ranging in colour from black to dark brown, and measuring 15-17 cm in length. With a high moisture content (30-35%) and an elevated vanillin content (1.5-2.5%), our Gourmet Black Bourbon pods deliver a rich, complex aroma with sweet, creamy, and floral notes. Free postage.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need a question answered that's not covered below please email us.
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Vanilla is a natural spice produced from the cured pods of Vanilla planifolia, a tropical orchid.
Each flower must be hand-pollinated and blooms for just one day, making vanilla one of the most labour-intensive spices in the world.
After pollination, the pod takes around two months to reach full size and a further six months to mature on the vine.
Once harvested, the green pods undergo a careful curing process lasting several months, involving blanching, sweating, slow drying, and conditioning.
This process develops vanillin and the complex aromatic compounds that give vanilla its characteristic flavour and aroma.
Only after curing is complete is vanilla ready for use as a finished product.
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Proper storage is essential to preserve vanilla’s full aroma and flavour.
Light, humidity, heat, and air all have an impact on vanilla: light alters
flavour and colour, moisture can cause mould, heat dries the pods, and air
leads to oxidation.Our vanilla pods are delivered to you wrapped in wax paper and heat-sealed
in a plastic pouch for protection.We do not vacuum-pack our pods, as vacuuming draws out aroma,
unnecessarily compressing the pods.Once opened, keep the pods in their original wrapping – wax paper and
plastic pouch.Store in a dark, cool place (ideally 15–20°C) inside an airtight, odourless
glass or plastic container.Don’t refrigerate.
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