It depends on what you're going to use it for. If you're planning to add to vanilla bean to a recipe such as ice cream, grade A is your best bet. If you're going to be brewing extracts, Grade B is the way to go. Read more about the differences in the question below.
While both are great, Grade A beans are more cosmetically appealing and contain a higher moisture content.
Grade A beans are typically longer, roughly 5-7 inches on average. They have more "caviar," or the small vanilla seeds you'll find inside.
Grade B beans taste equally as wonderful as the Grade A, but they smaller and may have physical defects such as scratches or even tattoos (farmers do this to protect their crops from theft).
Grade A beans are also known as "gourmet" beans, and Grade B beans are referred to as "Extract Grade" beans.
Vanilla beans are farmed with precision and attentiveness. It's is the second most labor intensive spice in the world. Farmers often spend over 5 years on average before they ever see their first vanilla bean grow.
Every vanilla bean is hand pollinated and each flower is only open for pollination for a 24 hour period.
After picking the beans from the vine, the beans then begin a lengthy "curing" process, which turns the beans from green beans to the lush, dark, bold vanilla we all know.
The vanilla is then certified through various agencies in the country of import.
Vanilla remains an incredibly scarce product as the demand far outweighs the supply. Farming vanilla is volatile and farmers must grow their plants for years before ever seeing a profit.
When you consider all that goes into the spice, vanilla is a true luxury.
All orders currently ship from Fort Morgan, Colorado. You can expect to receive your product between 2-4 business days after placing your order.
All of our products are shipped between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (MT) Monday through Friday. If you place your order during these hours, chances are we'll ship your product the same day. If you placed your order outside of this time, we'll ship your order the next day.
We appreciate your interest. We've developed our business with retail margins in mind. Bakeries, coffee shops, breweries, food stores, and boutiques interested in stocking Origin Vanilla products, please contact us at info@originvanilla.com
At Origin Vanilla, we strive to treat every customer as a friend and we go above and beyond to satisfy our customers beyond expectations.
If you've already opened your vanilla product, unfortunately, we're unable to accept a return and we're currently unable to offer a refund.
If your product is still untouched and remains in the same condition you received it, please contact us at info@originvanilla.com and we'll make things right.
Our company is built off of helping and working with small farmers. Most farmers, particularly in other countries, simply cannot afford the high price tag of a USDA Organic Certification. Every country has a different way of certifying organic products, and sometimes we are simply unable to put the USDA stamp on our farmers crop.
If your product says "Organic" but doesn't have the sticker, chances are the product is certified organic using another system that isn't registered with the USDA.
We'd never purchase or sell vanilla that's been sprayed with harmful chemicals. In fact, vanilla beans grow best with simple organic compost and vitamins rather than pesticides.
No, but let us explain. Small farming communities are the backbone of our business. The reality is that certifications are expensive for small farmers, often costing several thousands of dollars over a period of a few years.
At times, our farmers must choose between certification or sustainable profit-margin. Almost all of our farmers have a separate savings account dedicated to obtaining an organic or fair-trade certification one day, but it's not yet realistic for many.
We only work with farmers who grow their crops naturally. We work with the FDA and USDA to ensure our products are fresh and pestiside-free.
At Origin, we work exclusively with small family farms and farming communities. "We consider ourselves to be social investors." We invest in better equipment, training, and provide our farmers a platform to earn the profit they deserve.
The only time we'll work with an exporter or trading company is if they assist our small farmers in the processing and quality control process. For example, Madagascar vanilla farmers must legally comply and work alongside a certified exporter.
We bring small farmers directly to consumers. That's our business model.
In March 2017, a cyclone hit the east coast of Madagascar, which supplies 80% of the global vanilla demand. The disaster sent prices from under $100 per kilogram of vanilla to over $650 per kilogram. The cyclone caused prices to skyrocket as the supply was much less than the demand. 1/3 of the global vanilla supply vanished overnight.
Vanilla prices won't always be this high, but that's the current state of the market.
Double fold strength vanilla extract is brewed with exactly twice the amount of vanilla as our single strength, which means you're effectively getting twice as much vanilla with the same amount of liquid.
This is an attractive option for those making ice cream, frostings, and other liquid-sensitive recipes.
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Updates & Exclusive Offers From Origin
Stay up to date with new products, sales, events, and the vanilla industry as a whole.
Updates & Exclusive Offers From Origin
Stay up to date with new products, sales, events, and the vanilla industry as a whole.
