Vanilla is a natural spice produced from the cured pods of Vanilla planifolia, a tropical orchid.

Each flower blooms for just one day and must be hand-pollinated, making vanilla one of the most labour-intensive spices in the world.

After pollination, the pod takes around two months to reach full size and a further six months to mature on the vine.

Once harvested, the green pods undergo a careful curing process lasting several months. This includes blanching, sweating, slow drying and conditioning.

During curing, vanillin and hundreds of complex aromatic compounds develop, creating vanilla’s distinctive flavour and aroma.

Only once this process is complete is vanilla ready for use.

On average, our pods weigh approximately 3.5g each. This means that when you order 100g of vanilla pods, you will receive around 28 pods.

At 100g, the cost works out at approximately 62p per pod.

When purchasing larger quantities (i.e. 250g, 500g or 1kg), the price per pod reduces to approximately 50p each.

Vanilla is a living, aromatic product and must be stored correctly to preserve its integrity.

Exposure to light, humidity, heat and air will degrade quality. Light affects colour and flavour; excess moisture encourages mould; heat causes the pods to dry and lose suppleness; and oxygen leads to oxidation and aroma loss.

Our pods are wrapped in wax paper and heat-sealed in a protective pouch to maintain stability during transit. We do not vacuum-pack our vanilla, as vacuum pressure can compress the pods and diminish their natural aromatic oils.

After opening, retain the pods in their wax paper and wrap them tightly in the pouch provided.

Store in a cool, dark environment at 15–20°C, inside an airtight, odourless glass or food-grade container.

Refrigeration is not recommended.

We dispatch all orders via Royal Mail Tracked 48. Your vanilla will arrive within 2–3 working days of dispatch.

Orders placed before 11:30 pm are dispatched the next working day.

Postage is free.

Once your order is confirmed, you’ll receive a tracking number to follow your parcel and manage delivery directly with Royal Mail.

We only deliver to the address entered at checkout, so please ensure your delivery details are correct before completing your order.

QUESTIONS?

Email us at shop@thevanillapod.store

DAMAGED, FAULTY OR INCORRECT ORDERS

We take great care in packing every order.

If your order arrives damaged, faulty or
incorrect, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery with:

• Your order number
• Clear photographs showing the issue

We will review the information promptly and
arrange a replacement or refund, as appropriate.

This policy does not affect your statutory
rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

CHANGE OF MIND

As our products are food items, we do not
accept returns or offer refunds for change-of-mind purchases.

DELIVERY

We deliver within the United Kingdom.

Responsibility for your order passes to you
once it has been delivered to the address provided at checkout.

If you experience a delivery issue, please contact us within 24 hours of
delivery confirmation so we can investigate without delay.

Delivery times may vary, particularly in
remote areas. We are not responsible for delays caused by changes made directly
with Royal Mail.

 PRODUCT DIFFERENCES

Vanilla pods are a natural product, and
variations in size, colour and appearance may occur. Product images are
provided for guidance only.

OUT OF STOCK ITEMS

If an item becomes unavailable after your
order is placed, we will contact you to offer either:

• A full refund, or
• The option to wait until the product is back in stock.