Madagascar vanilla is known worldwide as the most aromatic and high-quality type of vanilla. This precious flavoring is obtained from the pods of the tropical orchid Vanilla planifolia. Although many people speak of a “vanilla bean,” botanically it is a berry.

The origin of vanilla lies in southeastern Mexico and Guatemala. From there the plant spread to Europe via Spanish explorers and later to tropical areas around the world. Today Madagascar is the largest producer of genuine Bourbon vanilla.

The origin of Madagascar vanilla

Vanilla was brought to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés. For a long time the plant could only bear fruit in Central America because a specific species of bee provided natural pollination there. It was not until the 19th century that the method for manual pollination of vanilla was discovered. This allowed cultivation to expand to places such as Madagascar, Réunion (formerly Bourbon) and Indonesia. Today Madagascar is responsible