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Heilala Vanilla - Madagascan Vanilla Beans - Two Pods
Regular price $14.00 USDRegular price -
Heilala Vanilla - Heilala Pure Vanilla Paste - 2.29 oz.
Regular price $14.00 USDRegular price
About Heilala Vanilla
- Based in
- Tonga (vanilla grown)
- Founded
- 2002
- Known for
- Tongan vanilla beans, paste and extract
Heilala started in 2002 as an aid project. After Cyclone Waka hit Tonga, New Zealander John Ross and his family partnered with a local family in Utungake, a village in Vava'u, and planted vanilla there.
Vanilla is slow work. The orchids can take up to six years to flower, and each flower must be pollinated by hand within six hours of blooming.
Heilala Vanilla questions
What is the difference between vanilla beans and vanilla paste?
A vanilla bean is the whole cured pod of the vanilla orchid. To use one, split it lengthwise and scrape out the tiny black seeds, or simmer the whole pod in a liquid and then lift it out. Heilala's vanilla paste combines pure vanilla extract, the flavor of vanilla beans drawn out into a mix of water and alcohol, with thousands of vanilla seeds, so it shows the same dark specks in a spoonable form. Heilala also makes an alcohol-free paste with a glycerine base. Heilala says one teaspoon of paste equals one whole vanilla bean.
How is Heilala vanilla grown and cured?
Vanilla comes from an orchid, and Heilala's growers in Tonga pollinate each flower by hand, moving its pollen within six hours of the flower opening. Each pollinated flower makes one green pod. Curing then brings out the flavor: Heilala dips the picked beans in hot water, then slow-dries them in the sun, which releases more than 200 flavor compounds.
