Vanilla from Madagascar, high in vanillin content, used in almost every commercial kitchen the world over, is often considered the very best of all vanilla beans. Though many users ask why is this so? Is Madagascar vanilla really better than all other vanilla beans? Do the Malagasy farmers who meticulously maintain these vanilla orchids, possess some magical powers? Is the island of Madagascar home to the most fertile vanilla soil? Read on and we will do our best to answer these questions and more.

Is the Madagascar vanilla bean really the best?

Depends on who you ask. In some aspects vanilla from this Indian ocean island can be considered the best due to a number of reasons.

  • Madagascar vanilla beans are consistently ranked as the best vanilla beans due to overall consistency of the vanilla beans that are produced.  Although the story of Bourbon vanilla did not actually begin in Madagascar ( the term Bourbon vanilla actually comes from a neighboring island to Madagascar) the term is now mostly associated with the vanilla species Vanilla Planifolia that grows in Comoros, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda and more to name a few.
  • High levels of green vanilla crop output compared to the rest of the world. Madagascar grows and produces upwards of 80 percent of the worlds supply of vanilla beans. This somewhat sheer monopoly on vanilla is made up of both large vanilla houses and small operation shareholders consisting of both co-ops and individual preparers and families of preparers.
  • An economy driven by vanilla produces highly competitive and competent  preparers. World prices swing up and down with vanilla as many of us have seen in the past five years. This is closely interrelated to micro economic factors in vanilla growing regions. By holding an 80 percent margin on the market you can surely bet that others simply follow Madagascars lead.
  • It really is great vanilla for making vanilla extract. Madagascar vanilla beans make great vanilla extract, there really is no denying that.  The beans produce a rich, aromatic and familiar vanilla profile that users expect of vanilla and have come to love for use in recipes such as creme burlee, vanilla ice cream and even Coca cola to name a few.