The Pastry Chef’s Essentials Gift Box

Discovery Gift Box “The Pastry Chef’s Essentials”: the great vanilla classics

The vanilla discovery gift box invites you to explore the great classics of exceptional vanilla. Designed by Paul Galand, vanilla sourcer, it brings together the emblematic Planifolia and Tahitensis varieties through a selection of six origins from direct supply chains with growers. An ideal tasting gift box for comparing aromatic profiles, enriching your pastry creations or offering a gourmet gift to a lover of fine ingredients.

Planifolia and Tahitensis: what are the differences?

In the world of high-end vanilla, these two major varieties differ in their composition and the richness of their aromatic expressions.

• The elegance of Tahitensis: richer in fatty acids (around 2.0%), it favors floral and aniseed nuances over a dominant vanillin expression. Its profile is fruity, delicate and particularly fragrant.
• The intensity of Planifolia: with a fatty acid concentration of around 1.0%, it expresses all the depth of a great vanilla, between vanilla, chocolate, woody and spicy notes.

To explore these differences further, our comparison Bourbon, Tahitensis or Pompona: which variety should you choose? presents the characteristics and culinary uses of each variety.

The six origins in your gift box

Paul Galand has brought together vanillas from terroirs known for their singularity, to explore a wide palette of aromatic nuances:

• 2 beans of Planifolia Bourbon from Madagascar: a generous, smooth benchmark, with notes of chocolate and caramel.
• 2 beans of split frosted Planifolia from Madagascar: harvested at full maturity, it naturally shows vanillin crystals on its surface.
• 2 beans of Planifolia from Tanzania: a broad, singular vanilla, with notes of leather and red berries, from the volcanic lands of Kilimanjaro.
• 2 beans of Planifolia from India: an intense, original profile, marked by herbaceous, prune and leather nuances.
• 1 bean of Tahitensis from Tahiti, in Moorea: a delicate Polynesian expression, with notes of almond, gingerbread and prune.
• 2 beans of Tahitensis from Papua New Guinea: an expressive origin, where floral notes combine with aniseed and chocolate accents.

Who is the Discovery Gift Box for?

This vanilla gift box is for pastry lovers, curious cooks and anyone who wants to discover the diversity of exceptional vanillas. It is also a fine first step before exploring our other selections: the Variety Gift Box, devoted to rare species, then the Collector Gift Box, which brings together some of the most remarkable vanillas in the world.

Tasting, using and storing your beans

Each origin deserves to be used in the right way to fully reveal its aromas. Find our advice in the guide to vanilla and recipe pairings, as well as our techniques for working with vanilla in pastry. To preserve the qualities of your beans, choose a glass tube, away from light, and see our storage guide.

Want to continue this discovery? Explore our collection of exceptional vanillas and its 19 origins, from must-have profiles to the rarest vanillas.