Peruvian Pompona Vanilla Beans - The Rioja - Grade A
Peruvian Pompona Vanilla Beans
(Retail orders ship immediately. Group buy orders usually ship in 4-8 weeks.)
The Rioja - Rare Peruvian Pompona Vanilla Beans from Northern Peru
Discover the extraordinary V. Pompona vanilla beans from Peru - possibly the world's first vanilla species and one of the rarest vanilla beans available today. These massive Grade A beans from Northern Peru offer an unparalleled vanilla experience. We named them after a quaint northern city of Peru called Rioja.
What Makes V. Pompona Beans Special?
- Massive Size: Only 2-3 beans per ounce (sometimes fewer) - the largest vanilla beans in the world
- Ancient Heritage: Likely the world's first vanilla bean species
- Natural Pollination: Many are still pollinated by bees due to their extraordinary size
- Grade A Quality: Premium beans that are plump, oily, and aromatic
- Extremely Rare: Limited to native growing regions in South America
Flavor Profile & Aroma
Experience the bold, complex flavor that only V. Pompona beans can deliver. These beans produce extracts with deep, rich vanilla notes complemented by unique floral and fruity undertones that set them apart from traditional planifolia beans.
Best Spirit Pairings for Extract Making
The complex flavor profile of V. Pompona beans pairs beautifully with premium spirits:
- Bourbon Whiskey: Enhances the rich, woody notes and complements the bean's natural complexity
- Dark Rum: Creates a luxurious extract with deep caramel and molasses undertones
- Cognac: Produces an elegant, sophisticated extract with refined floral notes
- Premium Vodka: Allows the pure vanilla flavor to shine through without interference
- Brandy: Adds fruity depth that complements the bean's natural floral characteristics
Perfect for Extract Making & Gourmet Baking
Due to their impressive size, these beans are ideal for:
- Premium vanilla extract production
- Gourmet baking and pastry making
- Culinary experimentation
- Collectors of rare vanilla varieties
The Rioja Advantage
Sourced from Northern Peru's fertile region, these V. Pompona beans benefit from the area's unique climate and soil conditions. Unlike the more common planifolia beans that have spread globally, V. Pompona remains true to its native South American roots.
Why Choose The Rioja: Own a piece of vanilla history with these rare, oversized beans that offer flavors impossible to find anywhere else. Perfect for serious vanilla enthusiasts and extract makers seeking something truly extraordinary.
I had one ounce of the Rioja and put them in New Amsterdam Vodka in August of 24. The color of the extract is very dark and it's rich. I tasted a few drops on some sugar and the flavor is wonderful! You get that nice vanilla flavor with fruitiness. I tasted raisins and something on the back of my tongue that reminded me of a hint of licorice. I definitely can't wait to try this extract in either sugar cookies or crepes to see what flavors come out in my baking. This extract and will definitely go into my private stock that will only be shared in the treats that I make with it.
While first underwhelmed by the Riojas (the beans seemed drier than others) I 100% reverse my opinion within the first 3 months of the extraction process. The Riojas are my favorite by far. The scent and color from Riojas is already amazing, far more vanilla aroma than alcohol. Can't wait for the finished extract in ~a year! Photo: La Romana (l), La Riojas (r) -- 3 months into extraction -- each jar single fold 2oz beans/16ozTitos.
These beans are huge and I’m sure will make a wonderful extract. I put them in Skyy vodka. I got them as part of the VP club. I was surprised that they were dry though for such a pricey bean. No oils in my fingers at all.
Thanks for the great review! The size of the Rioja bean along with the makeup of the outer skin makes them often more dry externally, but rest assured they are full of sweet oils and will make a delicious extract. Thanks for mentioning this important point.
I love these big fat beans
The look was good, as its a long time brew Im planning. So ask me in about 12 months. Thank you for this oppertunity.
Very nice beans
These beans were huge! There were three beans in my one ounce package and as always, they were oily and fragrant. I used Kirk and Sweeny rum as a splurge to see how it would turn out.
I love the size and flavor of these beans, I have ordered them several times.
These beans are huge! And they have so much residue on them the vodka turned light brown right away! It looks like iced tea after 4 days! I cant wait till its ready!
They are great! They seemed to be dry and stiff when I opened them. I did ask on the site about it and was assured they would be fine. OMG! I sent them swimming in white rum, white coconut rum to be exact. A couple of days later when I was shaking the bottle I was shocked at how dark the extract was. It smells wonderful!
My sister and I are extremely happy with our Rioja beans! I bought a two ounce portion and gave my sister one ounce. They were gigantic, oily and seemed loaded with caviar. I got mine into brandy right away and Aggy is using rum. We can’t wait to compare our final extracts! Thank you VanillaPura for a fine, quality product!
Beautiful, fragrant ,very plumb, oily
Perfect vanilla beans, 3-4 to an ounce!!
These beans are huge and they are covered in rum. I enjoy the extract they made with vodka so now I'm trying rum. Can't wait to try it.
Great beans. The smell is outstanding.
These beans are incredible. I expected something larger than the Tahitian, Ecuadorian, Ugandan and Madasgascan and these did not disappoint. Three very large, impressive beans, with a very dark oil compared to others aswell. My only complaint, coming from someone who also works retail/sells products by weight, my beans were not 28g/1oz. 26.8g may not seem far off, but when dealing with $50+ per oz, that's a little unacceptable in my honest opinion. In my world, I'd do my best to get spot on and if that isn't possible, then you go slightly over. But you *never* short the customer....
Thanks for the honest review! Our apologies for being under weight. We guarantee weights always - so send us an email at support@vanillapura.com and we'll make it right. Sometimes, with the real oily beans, some weight from the oils is left in the pouch which makes up the difference. Also, make sure your home scales are calibrated correctly by doing a comparison of another product where you are certain of the weight. And we couldn't agree more that you NEVER short the customer. We actually fill all of our bean pouches over weight and we calibrate our scales every 4 hours to make sure they are correct. Here's a helpful article to make sure bean weights are accurate. Thanks again for your feedback! We appreciate it! https://www.vanillapura.com/pages/how-to-weigh-my-vanilla-beans
So plump! once shipped, it went quickly!
My Riojas in Members Mark Vodka is just about finished ( @ 10 months so far ) and I tested it in some cream cheese and vanilla sugar and a healthy table spoon of extract for a spread! This is my absolute FAVORITE by far. I can't make up my mind between candy flavored or marshmallows or creamy nougat. Absolutely the best vanilla ever! So scrumptious! These are fabulous beans!! Biggest I've come across!! Can't wait to get a new order and extract in some white rum next!
When I opened the package I could not get over the size of these beans. They were as big as my fingers. I was so afraid to cut them to get them into the bottle. I sliced one of the beans to let the caviar float around. The color of the Rum started to change in a half hour. The molasses, fig and dried fruit will taste great in breads and cupcakes.
These beans are so super soft and pliable and full of caviar. The smell is amazing. I swam them in Bacardi this time for a sweet taste. Will order more asap. Three beans equal 1 oz. What can I say! Dried fig and rasin. Molasses, caramel coffee/mocha sent! What is NOT to love about these huge beans.
These beans are huge, got 3 beans in an oz. 2 very large ones and one a bit thinner. I split the thin one to have a look at the caviar and was amazed by the smell. I put these in vodka first and by the time I finished with all my beans the extract already had a nice color to it. Very good beans and well worth it
I am so pleased VanillaPura offered a pompona bean, as I've never tried that species. I was amazed. There were two huge beans, and a small one in an ounce. They were thick like a cigar. I cut into it, thinking it would be loaded with a ton of caviar, but was surprised that it had a typical amount. The walls of the beans were just that thick! They smell delightful with a raisin, date, vanilla aroma. Just outstanding.
