Trader Joe's Bourbon Vanilla Beans, 50g

Seasonal! Vanilla, plain? Never! A spice so integral to desserts across the world can’t possibly be boring, but it can be quite expensive—vanilla beans in particular.

Vanilla Beans are actually the pods of Vanilla orchids—including V. planifolia, better known as Bourbon Vanilla. They were first cultivated on their namesake island of Île Bourbon (now called Réunion) before operations moved to its larger neighbour to the west: Madagascar. If “Vanilla” and “Madagascar” seem synonymous, it’s because the island’s tropical climate and heavy rainfall produces Bourbon Vanilla Beans that are especially large, plump, and high in vanillin, the compound that gives the spice its wonderfully sweet and “warm” flavour.