10 Planifolia Gourmet Vanilla from Laudat Waitukubuli Nature-Island

Organic Vanilla Planifolia Gourmet from Waitukubuli aka Dominica, the "Nature-Island"
Origin: Waitukubuli (Commonwealth of Dominica)
Terroir: Laudat
Harvest: 2024
Curing: Ripe, cured and refined in jars
Refining: >12 months
DDM: 31.12.2028
 
Dominica being a small island, most of the farms and plantations are never far from the ocean front, and located from 30m up to 600m above sea level, inside the tropical rain forest. The production is exceptional but rare and the quantity is limited. The only agroforestry plantations have been restored and developed from original wild vanilla plants spreading all around after the last hurricane and are maintained by passionated organic farmers who also plant and process cane, cocoa, banana, ginger, as well as other crops and aromatic herbs.
 
These Nature Island Vanilla vines are grown under the canopy of the rain forest in a soil rich in organic matter and from the first harvest these exceptional beans have been processed as fresh vanilla pods (unscalded, unscarified and not dried) which allow all aromas to continiously evolve without evaporating like with the conventional drying processes; as beans age they develop an incomparable range of aromas and flavours, defined by pronounced liquorice, coumarin, and fresh floral as well as tobacco leaf notes with buttery caramel in the background, some atypical hints of maraschino and slight aromatic notes of banana. Another exclusivity, available only by Sylvanilla®.
 
As exceptional as the terroirs, the Nature Island Vanilla from Dominica are recognisable by their thickness and unique aromatic profile. 
 
Laudat is a small village in the center of the Nature Island of Waitukubuli, Dominica, located between 3 mountains: Morne Watt, Morne Micotrine (Morne Mackak), and Morne Trois Pitons., and is referred to as a "gateway" because it is the sole entry point to many of the islands sights, including the Boiling Lake, Fresh Water Lake, and Titou Gorge. Perched about 1200 feet above sea level Laudat has a cool climate and views of the Caribbean Sea. The air is often misty and cool - a change from the heat of lower-lying areas. The road to Laudat used to be a hair-raising ride up the mountains, around blind hairpin turns with sharp drop-offs into the rainforest jungle canopy, which receives some of the highest rainfalls in the Caribbean.
 
Right in the middle of this heavenly jungle, Nahjie lives together with his family and grows the organic Planifolia vanilla vines, among other fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic herbs, which started at least 70 years ago with his father. His plan is to continuously develop the organic Vanilla plantation and to cultivate more hectares of organic vanilla from different species.
 
Beans measure +- 19 cm for an average weight of 5g.
Moisture: 40%
Vanillin: +-2.2%
Packaging: 2 pods or more in glass tubes, or glass jars or in sachets
Nature Island Vanilla, Waitukubuli, Commonwealth of Dominica origin certified