Frequently Asked Questions

Heilala is pronounced “Hey-la-la.” The name comes from the Heilala flower, Tonga’s national flower. It’s also the name of one of the daughters of the Latu family, Heilala’s long-time partners in Tonga.

Heilala Vanilla is known for its exceptional quality, traceability, and social impact.

• Premium quality: Our beans are glossy, dark brown, and supple—clear signs of freshness.
  
• Traceability: From our plantations in Tonga to your pantry, with no unnecessary handling.
  
• Positive impact: We partner with local growers across Tonga, creating employment opportunities and providing access to housing, education, and clean water.
  
  When you choose Heilala, you’re not only buying the world’s finest vanilla—you’re giving back to Tongan communities.

We grow the Bourbon Tongan variety (also known as Madagascar Bourbon vanilla), prized for its creamy, sweet, and rich flavour.

Our beans are grown in the Kingdom of Tonga, a pristine island environment ideal for vanilla cultivation.

All Heilala Vanilla products are crafted and packaged in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Vanilla is the only fruit-bearing member of the orchid family. Each flower must be hand-pollinated on the day it blooms. After pollination, the beans grow for around nine months before harvest. They then undergo a careful drying and curing process, developing their deep, complex flavour.

Our 100% pure vanilla extract is made from premium Heilala Vanilla Beans, ethanol, and mineral water. Using a cold-extraction method over several weeks, we capture over 200 flavour compounds. The extract is then aged for three months in stainless steel tanks to develop its signature flavour before bottling.

Heilala Vanilla Paste combines pure extract with thousands of vanilla seeds, giving both flavour and the visual appeal of real vanilla specks. One teaspoon of paste equals one whole vanilla bean perfect for baking and desserts.

“Fold” describes the strength or concentration of vanilla extract.

• Single fold (1x): Standard retail strength (used in home baking).
  
• Double, triple, or five-fold: Concentrated strengths often used in professional kitchens or food manufacturing.
  

Vanilla enhances and balances flavours much like salt does in savoury cooking. It brings warmth, depth, and richness to desserts, drinks, and baked goods. It pairs beautifully with chocolate, coffee, nuts, fruit, and citrus.

Split the bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add them to your recipe. The whole pod can also be simmered in liquid for flavour, then removed. Don’t throw it away -dried pods can be added to sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.

Those are vanillin crystals, a natural sign of high-quality vanilla. They can form when beans are stored in cooler conditions.

Keep Heilala Vanilla beans and products in a cool, dark place such as your pantry or spice cabinet. Avoid refrigeration, which can cause beans to dry out.

Our Pure Vanilla Extracts and Pastes do contain alcohol (required for extraction).

We have however crafted an award winning range of Alcohol-Free Pure Vanilla and Paste that helps you add delicious flavour to your creations without a drop of alcohol. This range is crafted with a glycerine base rather than ethanol.

Vanilla Beans and Vanilla Powder are also an excellent alternative for someone wanting to avoid the addition of alcohol.

Each product has a 3 year shelf-life however properly stored, Heilala Vanilla products will last for years.

The flavour of beans and extract can even deepens over time.

Keep your vanilla products in a cool dark place. Ensure your beans are stored in a air tight container or snap lock bag and lids on bottles and jars are tightly secured.

Yes. Our vanilla beans, paste, sugar, and powders are travel-safe. Extracts are liquid and must meet airline liquid restrictions if carried on.

Yes. Every Heilala product purchased directly contributes to the Heilala Vanilla Foundation, supporting schools, hospitals, and families in Tonga.