Vanilla Bean, the Next Black-market Item

by Chewy

     It’s just one continual nightmare when it comes to dessert ingredient shortages.  I think we’re coping fairly well with the chocolate shortage and my cacao tree is being nurtured and fed and sung to daily (for optimum production). I’ve stock piled my Twinkies in an underground vault and they should stay fresh for decades. I’ve turned to alternative sugars (more about this later) to offset the  possible diminished  production of cane sugar. But this one may put me over the edge as I have no idea how to cope. There is a significant vanilla bean shortage! The HORROR!

     If you’ve read my blog on vanilla, you are aware that there are 4 major producers of the vanilla bean. Two of these, Mexico (the origin of the vanilla bean) and India are not pulling their weight.  Due to a poor harvest, production of the beans fell 90 percent in Mexico and Indonesia last year. That means the responsibility to provide fell to Madagascar and the monopoly begins. In fact 40 percent of the world’s supply was shipped out of Madagascar due to deferred orders from these other areas. As with all monopolies, this means cashing in  and wholesale prices have soared from $25 per kilogram to $35-$40 in two months. Cha-ching!

     There are a couple of reasons for this failure of production. According to Nick Peksa (Mintec business development director), “The stocks in the world are being run down and we are getting to a point now where we are likely to see the price suddenly shoot upwards”. Point taken, as you get older you just don’t reproduce like you use to. Additionally, cultivation process from planting to storefront can take up to six years. Throw in the labor intensive fertilization process and harvesting and you create the second most expensive spice next to saffron ($2270.00/lb).

     So how will this affect John Q Public? First, vanilla is the most expensive ingredient in ice cream and according to Peska, “It could push the price of ice cream up by around 10 percent”.  So as summer approaches and we experience our annual gas hike, so will go our vanilla ice cream. Additionally, you can expect other food production, medicines and perfumes to experience an increase in cost as well.

     I am at a loss as to where to turn for relief. Having fallen in love with the vanilla bean and incorporated its use in the kitchen and else where, I am loathe to give it up.  The only substitute I have come across is  Castoreum, the exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers see (vanilla extract recipe) and I am giving serious consideration to adopting a fertile pair and cornering that market. Until then, I have placed my order for vanilla beans, which should be arriving in an armored truck any day.