Our grade-A Mexican vanilla beans are grown in the tropics of the Yucatan Peninsula. When you open the package, you will immediately smell a dark vanilla aroma with hints of cocoa and mocha. Then, when you remove the beans you will smell an earthy bold vanilla with a hint of vanilla spice. If you use these beans to make extract, you will taste and smell a strong, concentrated, sweet vanilla with hints of chocolate, mocha and caramel. It is truly a wonderful and unique vanilla experience.