The very last step of vanilla production involves careful examination of the beans and then sorting them according to size, moisture content and characteristics (appearance). After the assessment, the vanilla beans are grouped into categories and graded as A, B or C.
Only those rich mahogany coloured, plump vanilla beans which are longer than 15cm, have high moisture content with vanillin concentration above 2% make it to the Grade A category. The Grade A beans are referred to as gourmet beans in the culinary world and are added to the cooking directly because they generate better aroma that gets absorbed into the dish swiftly.
Grade A beans are distinctly more shiny and chocolaty in appearance with a robust scent.
Grade B beans are not as luscious in appearance as Grade A and are quite skinny and dry. They are less than 15cms in length and due to lower moisture quantity find their best utility in making vanilla extracts that result in a deeply concentrated earthy extract.
These vanilla beans are less than 10cms in length and come with their distinctive splits.
We at Vanilla County make sure that not only are the vanilla beans grown and cured in Madagascar by a Malagasy family with experience of vanilla farming over 40 years but we also that the prime vanilla beans are bought from the farmers at best prices so that not only does your face light up in happiness when you put in a scoop of ice cream in your mouth made from aromatic vanilla extracts but also the farmers earn a fair livelihood by engaging in fair trade.