Vanilla Plantation

From El Tajin we returned to Papantla and visited a “plantacion de vainilla”. The operation is a family business not unlike some small rhody growing operations we know in the northwest. Our host took us down the jungle path about a hundred meters to show us vanilla orchids growing bountifully in the under story of the jungle canopy. Many grow in his shaded orchard of specialty orange and tangerine trees.

We also toured his four fully organic tissue culture shade-cloth houses. In these houses (probably 15m by 30m) five foot cuttings of Ceiba trees and three inch cuttings of vanilla orchids are planted adjacent to one another. The orchid plants cover the Ceibas and begin producing flowers and pods in about three years.

Needless to say, the heady aromas of vanilla charmed us all. We also enjoyed a stop at the gift shop (in the packaging shed), a cool drink on the front lawn and a visit with the little farm's pet crocodile!