Why Are Vanilla Beans So Expensive Right Now?
The price of vanilla beans has risen significantly in recent years due to a combination of factors. Climate change has led to unpredictable weather and natural disasters in Madagascar, where the majority of the world’s vanilla is grown, causing a drop in production. Additionally, the labor-intensive process of hand-pollinating and harvesting vanilla makes it a costly crop to cultivate. As demand for natural vanilla flavoring continues to grow in the food and beverage industry, the supply of vanilla beans has not been able to keep up, driving prices even higher.