Ingredient

Madagascan Vanilla Absolute

Vanilla planifolia

Also known as bourbon vanilla, Madagascar vanilla is particularly fragrant and highly sought after.

What is an absolute?

Absolutes are plant extracts obtained by soaking and ‘washing’ raw materials like vanilla pods with a solvent (usually hexane). In the case of vanilla, the result is a dark-brown, almost sticky, very fragrant liquid.

What is bourbon vanilla?

Although most of the world’s vanilla comes from the same species of orchid called Vanilla planifolia, many factors can influence its taste, smell and appearance, such as climate conditions, soil, drying process, etc. This means that, for connoisseurs, Madagascan vanilla will be quite different from other global sources such as Mexico, Indonesia, Tahiti or Uganda. Some say it’s the most flavourful of all.

The label 'bourbon' was first created to differentiate and highlight the unique qualities of the vanilla produced on the island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It soon spread to the surrounding islands, namely Madagascar, Mayotte, the Comoros and Mauritius. 'Bourbon' is the name of a French royal dynasty and was the first name given by the French to La Réunion in the 16th century, abandoned after the revolution.

Anymore for anymore?

If your curiosity has been piqued and you want to learn more about the benefits of natural vanilla extracts, head over to our vanilla absolute main page. You can also learn more about the ups and downs of the vanilla market in this article.