The Vanilla Journal
Blog
The vanilla world is far wider than Madagascar and Tahiti — 40+ origins, seven species, each shaped by terroir and tended by the small-plot farmers who hand-pollinate, harvest, and cure every bean. These are field notes from those origins, written for chefs, wholesale buyers, and anyone curious about the most labor-intensive flavor in the world.
Growing Vanilla in the USA: The Real Challenges...
The US consumes the most vanilla and grows almost none. Hawaii has the climate but not the labor economics. Florida has serious research but a subtropical climate that fights back....
Premium Planifolia Vanilla - The Step-by-Step P...
From hand-pollination to curing and quality control, explore the meticulous 14-step process behind premium Planifolia vanilla and why traceability matters when buying direct from growers.
Going Backwards at the Very Beginning: What $25...
Before we had a working supply chain, we lost more than $25,000 to two suppliers in Uganda — one who vanished with our funds, one who shipped mold and refused...
Vanilla Diseases Explained: What Fusarium and M...
Fusarium is a fungus, not a virus — and that distinction changes how growers fight it. A practical field guide to vanilla root and stem rot, the mosaic virus complex,...
The Dangers of Growing Vanilla in PNG and Parts...
Discover the challenges vanilla farmers face in Papua New Guinea and Africa, from remote conditions and theft to climate risks and economic uncertainty.
What Vanilla Means to Remote Growers with Limit...
Vanilla provides vital income for remote growers, supporting education, healthcare, and community development while connecting premium buyers with ethical, community-rooted sourcing.
Inside a Vanilla Sting Operation: What Buyers C...
A 2018 sting operation exposed systemic vanilla adulteration in commercial supply chains. Here is what it revealed about synthetic vanillin, tonka bean coumarin, origin misrepresentation, and the sourcing practices that...
Single-fold vs. Double-fold Vanilla Extract: Wh...
1X or 2X? The fold you choose changes flavor performance, heat stability, storage and the true cost per unit of vanilla flavor. Here is how ice cream makers, chocolatiers, bakers...
Creative Uses for Vanilla in Sweet and Savory C...
Vanilla isn't just for dessert. Discover creative uses for vanilla in savory sauces, seafood, meats, and cocktails, with the reasoning behind why it works and the vanilla bean origins, formats,...