Frequently asked

Ugandan bourbon vanilla — Vanilla planifolia, the same species grown in Madagascar. Ugandan pods are known for being creamy and rounded with a slight chocolate note, and Uganda harvests twice a year, which is part of why the pods reach you so fresh.

Grade A — also called gourmet or prime — means the pods have a higher moisture content, around 30–35%. They are plump, oily and flexible, and they're what you want for scraping into food. Grade B pods are drier and are mainly used for extract-making. We sell Grade A.

Over 17cm. Most are longer. Pods are a natural product so lengths vary a little within a batch, but nothing under 17cm is packed.

Almost certainly not. Fine white needle-like crystals are vanillin working its way to the surface, and it's a mark of a high-quality, well-cured pod. Mould looks fuzzy, is grey or green, and smells musty rather than sweet. If you're in any doubt, send us a photo and we'll sort it out.

Airtight, at room temperature, out of direct light. Not in the fridge or freezer. Stored that way they'll keep for two years or more. There's more detail on our recipes and uses page.

One pod flavours a cake, a batch of custard or a litre of ice cream. Three pods suit an occasional baker; five covers most home kitchens for a few months. For homemade extract, allow roughly 6–8 pods per 250ml of spirit.

Through Stripe, on a secure checkout page. You can pay by debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. We never see or store your card details.

Orders are packed and dispatched from the UK, usually the same or next working day. Standard delivery is Royal Mail Tracked 48. Postage is £2.99 on the 3 and 5 pod jars and free from 10 pods upwards. Full timings are on the delivery & returns page.

Not at the moment — we currently ship within the United Kingdom only. Vanilla is a plant product and faces import restrictions in many countries. If you're outside the UK, get in touch and we'll let you know when that changes.

Because vanilla is a sealed food product we can't accept returns once the pouch has been opened. If your order arrives damaged, incorrect or not as described, contact us within 48 hours of delivery and we will replace or refund it. Your statutory rights are unaffected.

Yes. We sell 25, 50 and 100 pod packs for bakers, cake makers, chefs and small businesses — all with free UK postage. You'll find them on the shop page. For anything larger, or a standing monthly order, send us your volumes and we'll quote you directly.

Yes — we also list on Etsy and eBay. Same pods, same hands, slightly different postage.