Vanilla beans have a sweet, perfumed aroma with a woody or smoky flavor. Vanilla is relatively expensive because the growth and harvesting process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. The pods are handpicked and dipped immediately in boiling water to halt their growth. Initially, the Vanilla bean has no flavor or aroma. The beans must be cured by heating in the sun and wrapping them to sweat at night for up to 20 days. They are then air-dried for 4-6 months to ferment and develop their unique aroma and flavor. Choose plump beans with thin skin to get the most seeds possible. Pods should be dark brown, almost black in color, and pliable enough to wrap around your finger without breaking. You can cut open a Vanilla pod in half, lengthwise, with a small knife. The paste & seeds can be scraped from inside the pod and be used as such in both desserts and savory dishes. The treasured seeds inside the Vanilla pods that can be extracted from cutting through the pods give a natural visual aspect of real vanilla. Indian Vanilla Beans can be used in many of the same applications where Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla beans are used. India is fast emerging as a major vanilla producer and vanilla beans cultivated in some parts of India are of the world's best! You will not find such high-quality vanilla from India anywhere else. We take great pride in being able to offer such wonderful Vanilla pods.