About Heilala Vanilla (pronounced 'hey la la') Heilala Vanilla began as an aid project in the beautiful and unspoilt South Pacific Island of Tonga. Following on from a devastating cyclone in 2002, Heilala Vanilla was founded to assist the community by providing employment and a sense of purpose and pride. The Heilala Vanilla plantation was established by a New Zealand family, in partnership with a local Tongan family from the village of Utungake in Vava'u and in 2005, the first crop was harvested. The beans were taken back to New Zealand and loved by local chefs who quickly spread the word that these vanilla beans were the plumpest and most flavorsome they had ever worked with. Since these small beginnings Heilala Vanilla has partnered with growers throughout several islands in Tonga and celebrated their 10th harvest of vanilla beans in 2015. Heilala Vanilla has significantly impacted the Tongan economy and continues to give back by providing employment and infrastructure across a number of communities. To this day Heilala Vanilla is the world's most awarded vanilla and products are sought after by specialty food retailers, fine dining establishments and gourmet food manufacturers all around the world. All Heilala Vanilla Products are Gluten Free. Heilala Vanilla beans have Kosher Certification from the Kosher Licensing Authority.
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