Vanilla beans are one of the most expensive spices because of their rich aroma and exquisite flavor. As with many agricultural products, vanilla beans undergo a grading process to distinguish their quality and characteristics. In this article, we will explore how IDNBeans vanilla grade system, focusing on the distinctions among Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C beans. Vanilla grade is typically based on factors like size, moisture level, and bean condition. However, each vanilla producer establishes their own grading standards for their products. In our case, we categorized into 3 grades:
Grade A:
- These beans exhibit the highest visual quality, being whole, straight, unsplit, and free from any imperfections.
- Length >15cm (Tahitian Vanilla) ; >17cm (Planifolia Vanilla)
- Weight at least 3.7g
- Moisture Content of approximately 20-30%.
Grade B:
- These beans also meet visual standards, being whole and straight, although minor splitting is permissible. While still supple, they may be slightly firmer compared to Grade A.
- Length 13-15cm (Tahitian Vanilla); 15-17cm (Planifolia Vanilla)
- Weight at least 2.8g
- Moisture content up to 20%.
Grade C/Extract: These beans did not meet the appearance criteria of Grades A and B due to factors such as curvature, small size, or excessive splitting. However, Grade C must still meet our standards for suppleness, fragrance, and overall quality.
Read more about how to choose Vanilla Beans according to your needs
