Vanilla 101

Two rare V. pompona vanilla beans. One from the remote highlands of Northern Peru — The Rioja. One from the legendary vanilla-growing regions of Madagascar — The Ambilobe. Same species, wildly different flavor profiles. Here's how they compare.

V. pompona is one of the rarest vanilla species on earth — and Mexican and Madagascar pompona are its two most distinctive expressions. They share a species name but deliver dramatically different flavor profiles: the Mexican Oaxaca is bold, dark, and earthy with caramel and molasses depth, while the Madagascar Ambilobe is bright, tropical, and banana-forward. Learn how to tell them apart visually, what makes each one unique, and which spirits bring out the best in both.