The Vanillerie: Tour a Vanilla Bean Farm on the Big Island

Venturing into the heart of the Big Island, one discovers the aromatic world of the Vanillerie—a farm where the air is sweet with the scent of vanilla blossoms. The Vanillerie Farm Tour is an experience that tantalizes the senses, offering visitors a glimpse into the delicate process of growing and curing vanilla.

Nestled on the verdant slopes of the Big Island, The Vanillerie Farm thrives in a region celebrated for its agricultural heritage. This boutique farm has a history intertwined with the Big Island’s island’s love affair with exotic crops.

The Vanillerie Vanilla Farm Tour

In addition to learning a lot about vanilla production, visitors will also get to sample different varieties of vanilla. You’ll also learn about its various uses in cooking and baking.

From traditional vanilla extract to unique and flavorful infused oils, the possibilities for incorporating this versatile spice into your culinary creations are endless.

The Vanillerie Big Island farm tour is a perfect activity for foodies, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a unique and immersive experience on the Big Island.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and family, the tour offers an immersive outdoor experience filled with scientific information on local agricultural techniques.

Note: Vanilla plants bloom once a year so it’s imperative that workers pollinate every single flower during this time. We were told horticulturists must pollinate blooming flowers within a 24 hour period.

History of the farm

Beginning as a family enterprise, it has embraced the art of vanilla cultivation, echoing the legacy of Vanilla’s journey from Mesoamerica to the Hawaiian archipelago.

Famed for a climate that mirrors the vanilla orchid’s native environment, the Vanillerie offers a distinctive Hawaiian vanilla that continues to enhance the island’s cultivation reputation. The Vanillerie is one of only two vanilla bean farms on the Big Island.

About Vanilla

Vanilla is a highly valued spice that comes from the tropical fruit of an orchid plant. It requires a delicate and labor-intensive process to cultivate and cure the beans, making it one of the most expensive spices in the world.

During the tour, guests can see firsthand how vanilla is grown and harvested, gaining a deeper appreciation for this precious ingredient.

Vanilla derives from orchids of the genus Vanilla. Most Vanilla comes primarily from the Mexican species flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia), a flavoring derived from orchids.

Vanilla beans

The vanilla pods, or beans, are harvested from the vanilla orchid after being carefully hand-pollinated on farms like those dotting the Hamakua Coast north of Hilo.

The cured beans are known for their complex and rich flavor profile, making Vanilla a treasured ingredient in culinary applications like vanilla ice cream and other desserts.

History of Vanilla

The history of Vanilla is as rich as its flavor, with its origins traced back to Mesoamerica, where the Totonac people were the first to cultivate the vanilla orchid. When the Aztecs conquered the Totonacs, they inherited the vanilla plant and used it to flavor their chocolate drink, ”xocolatl.”

Vanilla was later introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers, and it became an extravagant commodity. Eventually, Vanilla made its way to tropical regions like the Big Island of Hawaii, where farms like the Vanillerie and the Hawaiian Vanilla Company have embraced its cultivation.

Types of Vanilla

Several types of Vanilla are grown worldwide, each varying slightly in taste and aroma. The most common type is V. planifolia, known as Bourbon or Madagascar vanilla, which has a sweet, creamy flavor and is very aromatic.

Another variety, V. tahitensis, or Tahitian Vanilla, is more floral and cherry-like and tends to be subtler. The Big Island vanilla experience also includes the Hawaiian Vanilla, which results in a distinctive, high-quality profile favored in gourmet products because of the unique climate and soil condition.

Growing Vanilla

At The Vanillerie Farm, growing Vanilla is a labor of love intertwined with traditional practices and modern agricultural techniques. The farm ensures V. planifolia orchids are strategically planted to exploit the island’s unique climatic conditions.

Meticulous attention is paid to every aspect of the growing process, from ensuring they receive the perfect shade to the exacting science of hand pollination. This is a necessary step, given vanilla orchids bloom for only one day a year!

Note: Vanilla bean farmers don’t have much time to work. They use stilts to walk around and hand pollinate each orchid flower before they close.

Harvesting Process at the Farm

The harvesting process at The Vanillerie is defined by precision and timeliness, for vanilla pods must be picked at the right moment of maturity.

Farmers keenly observe each orchid, deciding to harvest when the tip of the bean begins to yellow. This meticulous timing ensures the best flavor and aromatic profile is captured within each bean.

Curing and Drying Vanilla Beans

After harvesting, the vanilla beans undergo a curing process that begins with a hot bath and a sunbath to commence the fermentation. Beans are then sorted and stored to dry slowly over several months.

This meticulous curing phase at the Vanillerie is essential. It develops the bean’s complex bouquet and deep, fully rounded flavor.

It’s a process that transforms the humble orchid pod into the prized culinary treasure that graces gourmet kitchens worldwide.

Finding the Vanillerie

The Vanillerie is only 5 minutes from the Kona Airport, just north of Kona.

Here’s directions to the Vanillerie on Big Island, Hawaii: Head west on Keahole Airport Rd toward Kupipi St. (492 ft). Turn left onto Kupipi St. (66 ft), left at the Airport Exit / Return to the Terminal (299 ft), and Continue onto Keahole Airport Rd. (0.6 mi). Turn right onto HI-19 (0.5 mi), then turn left onto Kaiminani (0.4 mi), and turn left onto Laui St.

Address: Big Island Vanilla Farm Tour, 73-4301 Laui St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Map to the vanillerie on Big Island, Hawai’i

Vanilla Products at the vanillerie

At The Vanillerie, the journey from pod to pantry is an artisanal craft, yielding exquisite vanilla products.

Vanilla Extract

The Vanillerie’s Vanilla Extract is an infusion of magic, where the alcohol base acts as a solvent, extracting the essential oils and flavors from the meticulously cured beans.

The result is a potent and aromatic liquid, beloved in baking and a staple in culinary creations, delivering a flavor as rich as the Big Island vanilla bean farm’s history in vanilla cultivation.

Note: At the end of the vanilla tour on Big Island, you get to sample vanilla ice cream. You can also purchase vanilla extract in their gift shop.

Vanilla Bean Paste

Vanilla Bean Paste is a thick, molasses-like mixture that marries the convenience of extract with the robust taste of whole beans. A small spoonful incorporates the full spectrum of Vanilla’s flavor, with the delightful flecks of bean seeds that signal homemade and high-quality to discerning cooks.

Vanilla Sugar

The delicate sweetness of vanilla sugar is crafted at the Vanillerie by infusing granulated sugar with the complex aroma of Vanilla.

This transformative condiment is a simple yet sublime addition to coffees, pastries, and confections. It offers a subtle hint of Vanilla that complements a wide array of desserts.

Vanilla Tea

Finally, Vanilla Tea is a comforting blend that the Vanillerie carefully creates by combining the finest black tea leaves with fragments of vanilla beans. This soothing, fragrant blend perfectly escapes relaxation and warmth, capturing the lush essence of the Big Island vanilla farm’s tropical ambiance.

Health Benefits of Vanilla

Antioxidant Properties

Pure Vanilla is more than a culinary delight—it’s a source of powerful antioxidants.

These compounds battle against free radicals, protecting the body from oxidative stress. They also promote overall cellular health.

Anti-inflammatory Properties

The Vanillerie’s vanilla products possess natural anti-inflammatory properties, making them a choice ingredient for those looking to reduce inflammation.

Regular consumption can aid in soothing conditions such as arthritis and may assist in calming an inflamed digestive system.

Improved Mental Health

Vanilla’s Vanilla’s smooth aroma is not just a treat for the senses but also has a profound impact on mental health.

It’s known to reduce anxiety and uplift moods, offering a natural way to achieve a state of well-being and tranquility.

Facts about Vanilla

• Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world. The first is saffron.
• Vanilla is derived from the orchid plant Vanilla planifolia.
• Vanilla grows best in tropical climates with high humidity and rainfall.
• Vanilla beans are hand-pollinated because the plant’s natural pollinator, the Melipona bee, is not found outside Mexico.
• The curing process for vanilla beans takes several months and involves a combination of sweating, drying, and aging.
• Pure vanilla extract is made by saturating vanilla beans with alcohol and water.
• Vanilla has been used for centuries as a home remedy for various ailments, from stomach issues to anxiety.
• The vanilla industry heavily depends on Madagascar, which produces over half of the world’s Vanilla.

Other vanilla bean farms

The Hawaiian Vanilla Company is on the Hamakua coast. It has farm tours that includes lunch. The farm tour costs $42 per person and takes about an hour.

Address: Hawaiian Vanilla Company, 43-2007 Paauilo Mauka Rd, Paauilo, HI 96727

You must go on this farm tour on the big island

As you weave through the verdant rows of vanilla orchids, you’re not just touring a vanilla farm on the Big Island. You’re embarking on a horticultural journey that reveals the meticulous care and patience required to cultivate this cherished spice.

From the pollination of each flower by hand to the intricate art of curing the beans, the tour is educational and sensory, culminating in a tasting that confirms vanilla’s reputation as a culinary treasure. Going on the Vanillerie farm tour is a must-see on the Big Island!