Nine months of magic

Our precious spice comes from a vine in the orchid family, known in our regions as "Planifolia". It climbs small shrubs and develops aerial roots.

It all begins with the flowering - the blossom is light green and yellow, with five petals and a delicate center.

In our growing regions, each flower is hand-pollinated early in the morning.

This technique is known as the "marriage of vanilla."

As each flower dries, it develops into a pod that grows for 8 to 9 months.

When mature, the pods are harvested and immersed in hot water (65°C) - a process called scalding.

Sealed in boxes to maintain heat, they continue to "cook" for 24 to 48 hours, developing a caramel color during this sweating phase.

The drying process begins with several days of sun exposure.

At night, the pods are wrapped in blankets to retain heat. This alternating process continues for a week. 

Drying continues on ventilated racks, where the pods develop their color and moisture content gradually changes.

As they dry, our pods are stored in wooden trunks, where they are regularly inspected, handled, and monitored.