Bedda-Bella After years of providing fine vanilla and flavorings to the food industry, it is the right moment for Bedda-Bella to offer you the world’s finest Malagasy vanilla. As a spice second only to saffron in value, vanilla is defined by a series of right moments…when to hand-pollinate the orchids, when to harvest the beans, when to conclude the long, careful curing process. And, of course, when to use beans, when to use extract, and when to dab a little behind one's ears. Bedda bella means 'beautiful beautiful'. At Bedda-Bella, it means beautiful, beautiful vanilla. Long Ago and Far Away Colonists and profiteers spread vanilla to Madagascar and a handful of tropical places where it now grows, but the vine is actually native to Central America. According to Totonac legend, vanilla planifolia was born of a tragic love affair. A beautiful princess and her prince were punished with death for their forbidden romance. The orchid sprouted where their blood fell and people came to believe that its fragrance was the spirit of the beloved princess. Vanilla Birds and Bees Vanilla has long enjoyed a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Ironically, this climbing orchid is unable to reproduce naturally outside of Central America and must be pollinated by hand, one flower at a time. Each flower opens at dawn and by dusk it wilts. For vanilla, the right moment is elusive and subject to the skill of the pollinator -- known also as a ‘matchmaker’ -- which only adds to vanilla’s mystique. Madagascar Vanilla On the far side of Madagascar, the day dawns posing the age-old question to the vanilla grower, Will today be the day that the orchids bloom? The delicate flowers of vanilla planifolia open for just one day, a few precious hours during which the flowers must be pollinated by hand, one by one to ensure a lush crop for harvest. The beans will be cured for six to eight months, then for a period sun-baked in the day, "sweated" in blankets at night, and massaged to maintain their straightness. All of this work is done by hand. The labor-intensive growing and curing of pods makes vanilla second only to saffron as world's most-expensive spice. Please explore our web site, and then allow yourself to indulge in the magic of vanilla!

BEDDA-BELLA
PO Box 6922
Tacoma, WA 98417
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