Where Did the Vanilla Flowers Go?
The Vanilla Crisis
There has been a worldwide shortage of vanilla in recent years, which has affected us and many others. This began around 2017, when extreme weather damaged crops in Madagascar, the world’s main supplier. Prices soared and remained high for a long time, as new vanilla vines take three to four years to mature.
While the situation is now beginning to improve, we made the decision some time ago—when the shortage was at its peak—to make a thoughtful change.
And that’s why we updated our much-beloved Rooibos Vanilla tea blend to Rooibos Honeybush.
But before we bid farewell to Vanilla completely, let’s honour it with some fascinating facts you may wish to know.
Madagascar’s Vanilla Challenges Included:
1 Years of drought caused by climate change
2 Extreme weather events
3 Labour exploitation, leading to rioting
4 Intense political unrest
5 Violence against farmers by organised crime groups
Why Is Vanilla Farming So Challenging?
Vanilla is time-sensitive and labour-intensive to grow. The vines take three years to mature.
In Madagascar, where over 80% of vanilla is produced, the flowers must be pollinated by hand. The pods require several months to cure after harvesting. The entire process is time-consuming and labour-intensive.
To ensure that the plants produce beans, pollination must occur on the very day the flowers bloom—before noon! This means farmers work with thin sticks in a delicate process to manually pollinate the flowers.
Once pollinated, the Vanilla beans must be carefully hand-picked at full ripeness. After harvesting, the beans are dipped into hot water to stop photosynthesis.
Then begins the curing process, which can take months, until the beans develop a deep, dark brown colour. Finally, the pods are stored until their delicious, aromatic flavours fully mature.
As you can see, there are no shortcuts when it comes to producing Vanilla. This is why many products resort to cheaper substitutes, like synthetic vanilla flavourings.
The Current Vanilla Situation
There are approximately 40 million vanilla orchids in Madagascar.
However, with about 80,000 vanilla farmers on the island, most are impoverished and often indebted to intermediaries. If farmers do not earn enough from their harvest, they borrow money and use the upcoming harvest as collateral. If the harvest fails or is stolen, they cannot repay their debts.
Premature harvesting and dilution have also led to an imbalance in vanilla quality from Madagascar, reducing trust among consumers, restaurants, and chefs. This has left many farmers in a poverty trap, unable to implement efficient practices or produce high-quality vanilla.
While poverty and deforestation remain pressing issues, sustainable conservation efforts are underway. Whether driven by altruism, brand-building, or self-interest, vanilla producers in Madagascar are redefining their relationships with farmers to tackle these challenges.
What Vanilla Substitutes Are Available?
Most vanilla-flavoured products are made from extracts, with less than 1% coming from actual Vanilla beans. These substitutes include:
Lignin, a plant compound
Eugenol, a clove oil compound
Wood pulp—yes, really
And, unfortunately, cow faeces
Of course, none of these would ever make it into our tea blends. We use only 100% organic herbs and spices.
And Now for The Delectable Alternative... Honeybush!
We felt that replacing Vanilla with Honeybush was the perfect choice.
Why, you may ask? Honeybush has a naturally sweet and comforting flavour, bringing qualities similar to Vanilla. This makes it a perfect partner for Rooibos.
As always, we raise a cup to the healing of our planet and to the health of our fellow tea lovers.
