Vanilla sotoarenasii from Colombia

A delicate vanilla

Sotoarenasii vanilla has a gentle, singular aromatic profile. Its beans develop notes of apple, plum and peach, accompanied by aniseed, floral and slightly licorice-like nuances, with a touch of tonka bean.

Its skin, less stringy than that of many vanillas, allows you to use the whole bean, almost like a ripe fruit. It works perfectly in desserts, crème anglaise and pastry cream, etc. Some beans can even be eaten as is, to discover the full richness of their aromatics.

A wild selection

Often confused with Planifolia because of the resemblance of its leaves and flowers, Sotoarenasii nevertheless stands out for its shorter, wider beans, as well as its very particular aromatic profile.

It is a wild vanilla, naturally pollinated by the region’s endemic bees and hummingbirds. In the jungle, it grows freely, its vines climbing the trees of the rainforest.

Like Odorata, it is one of the species behind certain natural hybridizations, notably those that contributed to the emergence of Tahitensis.

Bahia Solano, an unspoiled forest

This vanilla grows in the Bahía Solano region, on the Pacific coast of Colombia, one of the wildest and most inaccessible territories in the world.

In this very poor region, growing vanilla is a valuable alternative to deforestation and illicit crops. Vanilla vines are plentiful in the forest, and making the most of them helps preserve this exceptional ecosystem while providing an income for local communities.

Each bean produced here therefore carries an extra dimension: that of a protected forest and a more sustainable economy.