Vanilla Extracts from Vanilla planifora grown in Tonga

 

Marie Wonga, John Grigora, Scott Hutchingsa, Cameron Fana, Jennifer Boggissb, Garth Boggissb

a Institute of Food, Nutrition & Human Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.

b Heilala Vanilla, Tauranga, New Zealand.

 

 

Vanilla planiflora beans grown in Tonga are cured and dried before they are shipped to New Zealand (NZ). On arrival in NZ the vanilla beans are extracted to produce aqueous ethanol based extracts containing varying concentrations of vanillin and having different flavour profiles.  The different extracts have been analysed for their phenolic composition by HPLC. Using a sensory panel trained to evaluate vanilla, the vanilla extracts from Tongan vanilla beans have been described using quantitative descriptive sensory analysis. Information will be presented on the key attributes found to describe different vanilla extracts from Tongan Vanilla planiflora beans.