Ode to our inspiration, Edmond Albius, who was an important figure in the cultivation of the vanilla bean. Born in 1829 on the French colony of Réunion Island, located east of Madagascar, at the age of 12, he invented the hand pollination technique that made the vanilla industry possible. This technique is still used today as nearly all vanilla orchids are pollinated by hand to produce the actual bean. Edmund received his manumission in 1848.Our brand honors his legacy. Our  vanilla custard is slow-cooked cream blended with all the milks and steeped with vanilla beans harvested from Reunion Island, Edmond's birthplace, and from Uganda.