Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Grading

 
• In India, the beans are graded into four groups. The first (best) grade beans consist of those above 16 cm in length, soft to touch without any blemishes and containing 2.5% vanillin. The second-grade beans consist of those of 12-15 cm length, without blemishes and with more than 1.8% vanillin. The third-grade beans are shorter, with a length of 8-12 cm and with some blemishes. The rest of the beans are taken as fourth (last) grade and are of poor quality.
• The grades or types of vanilla (beans) entering the trade are:

  i. Mexican vanilla
  ii. Bourbon vanilla (from Madagascar) Indonesian vanilla
  iv. Tahiti vanilla (from Tahiti)
  v. Vanillons (from West Indies)