THE VALLEY OF VANILLA

Hioe — It was only recently that this question was raised. It has its own distinctive fragrance, and our farming process is different from other places in the world. A large difference is that our vanilla is never cooked in water as other places that utilize different methods to hasten the process. We give the time for the beans to wholly express themselves. When our beans are almost ripe, they still cling to the plant. Then we cut them and store in a dark place until they are fully ripened.

Hioe — We start from planting. Vanilla is an orchid that goes on a host tree. We secure the vine to the tree used as a pole. There’s always coconut husk at the bottom of the trees designed to help with the water supply and humidity bestowed upon the plant. Then we leave the orchid vine to grow for at least three years. The first flowers will appear only then, and will need to be pollinated by hand.

Hioe — Then we must wait for nine months or more for the beans to grow and mature before they can be harvested. Again, we do not employ unnatural techniques to hasten the drying, so after this if there is ample sun, the beans will be fully dried within three months. It could take longer if there is more rain.

Hioe — It’s a premium product and the quality we grow is amongst the highest. This is why our product is mostly used for cooking. We export the longest and most beautiful beans for cooking. But for the beans with a slightly lesser quality, there are other uses for it including the cosmetics industry for beauty treatments and perfumes.

Hioe — People are not really enthusiastic about farming in the open air because it requires more work for fewer yields, whereas in greenhouses the higher humidity rate helps us get better yields. In the open air, it's different. There aren't too many open air farms left. The youth today prefers growing the beans indoors because it's straightforward, and the plant doesn't grow on the trunk of a tree, they're concrete poles, it's therefore easier.

Hioe — It’s not only because it is vanilla, it’s also because it is a family legacy. We work with Nature. We love everything that surrounds us and this is what we want, a positive attitude towards our environment. We have all sorts of fruits growing, but vanilla is our job, our treasure and our future. So our love for Mother Nature is what keep us going.

Hioe — When you have a visceral love for your land, you will come back. You can tour the world, visit every corner of it, but in the end you will want to come back. It’s where I belonged, and I came back to restore what my elders had started and worked hard for.

Hioe — It’s known for its lifestyle, for the Mana, which makes us different from the rest. We call ourselves Ta'ata Mā’ohi “the offsprings stand clean, nothing can spoil us”, this is because we eat our own food that we grow. The fish come from our ocean, and that which we plant with our own hands is consumed. That’s why we stand clean. We love Taha’a and Taha’a loves us.