Grow Vanilla

Tanzania vanilla growers

Henerico Daud Buberwa (Mr. Daudi) is a Tanzanian vanilla farmer, pictured here on the left. I originally bought some of Mr. Mugabuso’s (right) Tanzanian vanilla beans from Kim, a former Peace Corps worker.

Mr. Daudi sent me a post letter describing his vanilla growing and curing techniques, and compared them to those presented in Piero Bianchessi’s fantastic vanilla plantation handbook, Vanilla, Agriculture & Curing Techniques.

Mr Daudi writes:
I have read the handbook; it is very nice one. New knowledge I’ve acquired from the book includes:

• Other countries growing vanilla
• Vanilla world markets
• Vanilla spices
• Vanilla curing techniques.

Vanilla growing programs
All growing program from preparation of shamba [ed:vineyard] to pollinating of flowers are the same as we do, though there are slight differences in approach; e.g. in case of poles (supporting poles) here we use jatrophas only, mulching we use dry grass, dry banana leaves and banana stems; also here vanillas are grown in the same shamba with bananas, cassava yams, beans coffee etc.

The pictures in the book show that in other countries vanillas are grown in the forest.

Curing techniques
From the book curing techniques seems to be long and complicated circle.

At home, after harvesting ripe vanilla we take heap of 40-50 vanilla beans and wrap them in black clean cloth, then after, the heap is exposed to the sunshine for 5-6 hours everyday for two weeks consecutively, after this period the heap is opened and vanilla beans are left at clean cool place for a week to dry slowly. Already you have nice vanilla for home use or parking.

Bad Luck
The organization which buy vanilla here at home, it interests on raw vanilla for gaining more profits.

Refer to Mugyabuso’s vanilla, it was dried in the same system as the mentioned one above. Testing of vanillin content it is still a problem at home level.

I will try to take photos from my shamba and give you more details about vanilla later.

Wish you the best.
H. Daud
1st June 2008

Contact:
Henerico Daud Buberwa
c/o Meleki Emanuel Kaishozi
PO BOX 11849
Mwanza, Tanzania

Related
Tanzania planifolia vanilla
Tanzania vanilla, first look
Tanzania vanilla beans

Here’s another video from Agus Ramadas, a champion of gourmet vanilla in Indonesia.

Related
Indonesian tahitensis beans?
Fair trade vanilla alert.
Gourmet Organic Vanilla from Indonesia.
Indonesian vanilla video

Here’s a round-up of indoor vanilla information. Feel free to link to other resources in the comments.

Indoor vanilla links
Heilala Vanilla info.
Heilala Vanilla indoor vanilla plantation gallery.
Indoor vanilla in the Ukraine.

This video documents a vanilla and teak project in Costa Rica.

Check out this video from Rentak Timur in Malaysia.

Here are two new vanilla videos (1,2) from youtube user agusramadas, a vanilla pioneer in Indonesia.

This excellent pictorial from Venui Vanilla demonstrates vanilla pollination. This is the best close-up image series of pollination that I’ve ever seen. Click for a larger size.

This pictorial shows vanilla pollination.
Photo:Venui Vanilla/original URL.

Patrick at eurovanilla.eu sent this fascinating history of indoor vanilla cultivation in the Ukraine.

In earlier days, beginning this last century, there was actually a local company who had indoor growing vanilla, using wood stoves air systems to warm in the winter. They did exist for quit long time, until somewhere in the 1970’s…In those times, they even developed special blankets for special made drying rooms, where they dried the vanilla.

…in the Ukraine [indoor vanilla cultivation] is not really something new, it is more like re-introduction…

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a few more links to vanilla growing and curing information.

Jags at Orchids Asia has an online, illustrated guide to vanilla growing and curing methods. This is an extensive vanilla growing how-to website that reflects Jags extensive experience growing vanilla in India.

Garth at Heilala Vanilla in New Zealand put together this great summary of vanilla literature. Garth’s paper has a little bit of everything about growing vanilla — from an extensive section on curing vanilla, to a lengthy description of the chemistry involved.

Related
Starting a Vanilla Plantation

If you’re even thinking about starting a vanilla plantation, you must buy Piero Bianchessi’s Vanilla: Agriculture & Curing Techniques (2004).

The first section covers planting, propagating, and maintaining a plantation. The second section illustrates the curing and grading process. Full color pictures help identify common pests, diseases, and symptoms of unhealthy plants.

Cover

This is THE GUIDE to starting a vanilla plantation. Read more about it at the bottom of the Venui Vanilla page.

This video shows vanilla pollination in action.

These videos show vanilla beans being grown and cured, via the Malaya Spice/Rentak Timur website. These are not in English, but the video is interesting and many English words are used.

Part 1

Part 2

This youtube video describes a project to produce high quality organic vanilla in Indonesia.

via this Indonesian blog.