Vanilla beans or pods are from the orchid Vanilla Planifolia. The vanilla that is grown on Niue is of the genus Vanilla Tahitensis.
As its name suggests, this particular variety comes from Tahiti, but how it got here remains a mystery. In the early 1950’s, missionaries on secondment from the United Kingdom were astonished to find the orchid growing wild on the Island. Surprisingly though, there were very few pods. So how did the plant get here and why so few beans? This tour will reveal all and more. Noga Bray is truly Niue’s Vanilla Queen; she grows, she pollinates, she harvests and she cures her own beans. In these challenging times, she has even had to find a market. Our tour guide Lisa will pick you up and drive you to Noga's vanilla plot at the village of Tuapa; on the way, you can ask her to let you in on some island secrets and anything else you might like to know about life on our little Island of Fantasy! If you haven’t had your morning’s dose of coffee, put a few dollars in your purse for a latté or cappuccino at Crazy Uga cafe on the way.
Adult $75