Make Your Own Homemade Vanilla Paste with Madagascar Vanilla: The Secret Ingredient of Pastry Chefs
- Matana Québec
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Native to the lush rainforests of the Indian Ocean, Madagascar vanilla is widely regarded as the best in the world. Rich, complex, and naturally sweet, it comes mainly from the Bourbon variety, hand-grown in the Sava region. This unique terroir, combined with ancestral expertise, produces an aromatic spice that’s a favorite among chefs, bakers, and food lovers.
Madagascar Vanilla: A Global Culinary Treasure
In this article, we’ll show you how to make homemade vanilla paste using premium Madagascar vanilla provided by Matana, a Quebec-based company committed to fair trade and sustainable sourcing. You'll also learn about the unique benefits of vanilla paste compared to other forms (beans, extract, powder), and why it’s becoming a must-have for home chefs and recipe lovers.
Why Madagascar vanilla ?
Madagascar has the perfect climate and soil to grow vanilla planifolia, the most prized variety of vanilla in the world. The island’s unique ecosystem, combined with generations of artisanal know-how, produces beans with unparalleled flavor complexity — floral, woody, creamy, and slightly spicy.
Unlike synthetic vanilla or blends from other regions, Madagascar vanilla develops its full richness through a labor-intensive curing process that can take up to nine months. This makes it the gold standard for anyone seeking true, natural vanilla in their cooking and baking.
Why Choose Matana for Your Madagascar Vanilla?
Based in Quebec, Matana offers premium, fair trade Madagascar vanilla sourced directly from local cooperatives. We ensure fair income for farmers and unmatched quality for our customers. With fast shipping across Canada and the U.S., we deliver fresh, flexible, aromatic vanilla beans — perfect for homemade culinary creations.
What Is Homemade Vanilla Paste Used For?
Homemade vanilla paste is a concentrated, aromatic form of vanilla made from whole beans blended with a natural syrup or alcohol. It’s ideal for:
Flavoring custards, cakes, and ice cream
Replacing vanilla extract or whole beans
Keeping a ready-to-use natural vanilla on hand
Vanilla Paste vs. Extract vs. Powder — What’s the Difference?
Extract: Liquid and milder, made through long maceration
Powder: Convenient, but often mixed with sugar or starch
Paste: Thick, with visible seeds — offering a richer, more authentic taste, especially when made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Paste?
Making your own vanilla paste at home means capturing the full essence of Madagascar vanilla in a jar. Here’s how:
Ingredients for Your Homemade Vanilla Paste
10 Madagascar vanilla beans (from Matana)
100 ml maple syrup (or vegetable glycerin or dark rum)
1 tbsp cane sugar (optional)
Steps to Make Homemade Vanilla Paste
Slice the beans lengthwise and scrape out the seeds
Chop the beans into small pieces
Blend the seeds, chopped beans, and syrup into a thick paste
Store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
🕒 Keeps for months!
Where to Buy Authentic Madagascar Vanilla in Canada & the U.S.?
At Matana, we carefully source fair trade Madagascar vanilla beans, shipped locally from Quebec. Our vanilla is ideal for homemade pastes and premium desserts, combining taste, ethics, and craftsmanship.
Where to Buy Authentic Madagascar Vanilla in Canada & the U.S.
At Matana, we carefully source fair trade Madagascar vanilla beans, shipped locally from Quebec. Our vanilla is ideal for homemade pastes and premium desserts, combining taste, ethics, and craftsmanship.
For Epicureans: Homemade Vanilla Paste Is an Art
Creating your own vanilla paste with Matana’s Madagascar vanilla is more than a recipe — it’s a celebration of authentic taste, ethical sourcing, and culinary passion. Enjoy the richness of one of the world’s finest spices in its most delicious form.
