Vanilla is a commonly used spice and nowadays it is being cultivated, manufactured and exported by different companies from different parts of the world. However, not all exporters deliver the same variety of vanilla. The quality of the vanilla beans and/or vanilla products that come from other countries are not the same. They’d usually differ in taste and aroma. So which part of the world can the finest vanilla be found?

The finest vanilla in the world can be found in the tropical island of Madagascar. Known as Bourbon Vanilla, the Madagascar vanilla beans has made its mark as the best tasting and premium quality vanilla in the world. Compared to other vanillas, the Bourbon vanilla beans are slender and can reach the length of approximately 8 to 12 inches. This variety of vanilla bean is known for its strong sweet smelling aroma. Though they are slender, the Bourbon vanillas are thick and contain a profusion of minute seeds that are abundant with vanillin. According to the UN Food and Drug Administration survey in 2006, Madagascar ranked first place in the top producers of vanilla, providing more than half of the vanilla consumers all over the world and still continues to be on top of the list.

Indonesia is the second largest producer of vanilla that’s naturally preserved. The Indonesian vanilla when cured and processed the ‘Madagascar way’ could almost be like the Bourbon vanilla. Though less creamy compared to the vanilla coming from Madagascar, the dramatic increase in the quality of the Indonesian vanilla through the years has made it closely similar to the Bourbon. Before, the cultivation of vanilla was only confined in the some parts of Indonesia – Bali and South Java. It was only in 2004 that vanilla cultures have spread to other parts of the country.

Mexico was once known to be the leading and original producer of Bourbon vanilla. Their vanilla products are rich and creamy and somewhat spicy in flavor. This variety of vanilla is best when mixed with recipes that do not require heating. Mexican vanilla bean extract is sometimes added with the extracts of the tonka beans that’s been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration because it contains a substance called coumarin that is known to cause kidney and liver damage.

Another variety of vanilla is the Tahitian Vanilla. Compared to Madagascar vanilla, the pods of the Tahiti vanilla are smaller, more plump and moist, and it contains less vanillin. It has a fruity flavor and a flowery aroma and contains more oils. Vanillons is another type of vanilla nurtured in Guadeloupe. Although low in vanillin content, its vanilla beans possess the same floral characteristics of the Tahitian vanilla making it more useful in perfumery. There are also other vanilla varieties somewhat similar to bourbon that are grown and cultivated in some parts of South America and West India however, there’s only a diminutive production of quality vanilla coming from these places, and most are of poor quality.

Depending on your culinary or perfume needs, when you buy vanilla or vanilla pods, choose only the best quality. Remember that vanilla is a very expensive commodity. See to it that you get what you pay and that it’s worth the price.