Vanilla worker with a vanilla bean in his hand. Vanilje arbejder med vaniljestang i hånden. Det er bourbon vanilje der tørres

Our mission

We will improve the vanilla industry one vanilla pod at a time. The vanilla industry must benefit those who grow the vanilla.
Hand holding vanilla beans in bulk. Hånd holder vaniljestænger i store mængder

Responsible taste

Social Vanilla creates social change through business. We believe that we can make a difference and create sustainable growth and prosperity for the vanilla farmers in southern Africa – and at the same time produce world-class vanilla to the delight of our customers. Our goal is to create positive change for all the people who are touched by what we do.

Our core values

Responsibility

We take responsibility for the vanilla farmers getting a fair price and producing vanilla with sustainable methods for people and the planet.
Vanilla in a pile and hands holding vanilla beans. Vanilje i en bunke og hænder der holder vaniljen

Quality

High quality requires time and skills. We know that. Therefore, we only enter into agreements with vanilla farmers and drying stations who are willing to spend the time required to produce vanilla of very high quality.

Transparency

We have nothing to hide - on the contrary. That's why we give you full insight into the entire value chain. At Fairfood TRACE, you can see who grew the vanilla, what we paid.

Vanilla's journey from farm to table

Each vanilla pod is hand-picked and selected with care to ensure the highest quality. And before it reaches your kitchen, it has been handled with care to ensure the best quality and taste. See here vanilla's long journey from farm to table.

  • Pollination of a vanilla flower. Befrugtning af vanilje blomst

    The plant is fertilized

    Ainatwe B or one of the other vanilla farmers we collaborate with fertilizes each and every flower on the vanilla orchid.

  • Harvest

    When the vanilla is ripe approximately 9 months after fertilization, Ainatwe B can pick the green vanilla beans and deliver her harvest to our pick-up location. Ainatwe B gets a fair price and bonus for the vanilla when it is quality checked.

  • Vanilla in a pile and hands holding vanilla beans. Vanilje i en bunke og hænder der holder vaniljen

    Refinement

    The vanilla is transported to the drying station and now processing begins. First scald the vanilla. Then, for a period of 3 to 4 months, the vanilla must alternately be taken out in the sun to dry and wrapped in blankets to develop.

  • A box of wholesale vanilla beans. En kasse med engros vanilje

    Fermentation

    When the vanilla has the right humidity, it is placed in boxes where it must mature for 3-4 months. This slow process maximizes the vanillin content of the vanilla and thus its taste and quality.

  • Vanilla bean on a plate. Vaniljestang på en tallerken til dessert

    Delivery to you

    The gourmet vanilla pods are transported to Denmark and delivered to you, so you can conjure up deliciousness in your kitchen.

The team behind it

Amie N'Dong

Amie is director and co-founder of Social Vanilla. She is passionate about creating social change through business – and is particularly focused on changing our food systems for the better. Amie has a background in international social work and holds a master's degree in African Studies. Amie is driven by social entrepreneurship and is passionate about creating links between small farmers in Africa and the international market to create social economic growth.

Mikael Mortensen

Mikael is our CFO and co-founder of Social Vanilla. In 2015, together with his sister, he established a sustainable coffee farm in Uganda. Since then, Mikael has sold both coffee and vanilla from Uganda and along the way has seen and experienced a large number of the problems in the Ugandan vanilla industry. Mikael now uses that experience in Social Vanilla to create social change and growth for the Ugandan vanilla farmers.

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