How does Bourbon vanilla differ from Tahitian vanilla?
Bourbon vanilla beans come from the fruit of an orchid plant of the variety, vanilla planifolia, and are rich in the chemical compound vanillin, which, along with more than a hundred other organic compounds, contributes to its unique flavor profile. It’s the flavor most associated with vanilla, that is used in ice creams and vanilla desserts. Tahitian vanilla beans actually come from a completely different plant variety, called vanilla tahitensis which has very little vanillin content – but are high in certain “anisyl” compounds. Many pastry chefs like to use Tahitian vanilla because of its lively, fruity flavor.
