Heilala Vanilla

Values

Our Story

Heilala Vanilla was started in 2002 in response to the devastating effects of Cyclone Waka, which ravaged the Kingdom of Tonga and left the Islands and its people shattered in the wake of an exceptionally vicious natural disaster.

Kiwi founder, John Ross and his family partnered with locals in the village of Utungake to establish a small vanilla plantation that grew into the world-renowned vanilla brand: Heilala Vanilla.

Grown on rich, Pacific soil and dried under the Polynesian sun, Heilala Vanilla is an all-natural product of a perfect climate. Their wide-ranging vanilla products are made from a unique Tongan-Madagascan Bourbon variety of vanilla beans and they are sustainably and ethically made.

In addition to their vanilla beans, paste, extracts, and syrup, Heilala Vanilla also produces a limited edition range of heavenly-scented hand sanitizers, home care products, and facial oils that all draw upon the nourishing properties of pure vanilla.

Heilala Vanilla’s core mission is to empower the people of Tonga with a rich local industry that can provide a thriving future.

“We believe that the best vanilla comes from long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect.” 

Heilala is passionate about supporting 400 vanilla farming families in Tonga through partnerships that offer new opportunities to the local community. They are determined to set a new standard for cultivating, drying, and processing vanilla that puts people before profit and community prosperity before individual wealth.

The company has always paid above-market prices and supports ‘The Tongan Way’ (Anga Fakatonga), with a working culture that is social, family-friendly, and has given its people a new industry to adopt, supporting the protection of their local lifestyle.

Because of the depth of their relationships in grower communities, Heilala is the only vanilla company that is directly involved in planting, growing, harvesting, processing, and marketing vanilla. 

Their community focus and unique ‘bean to bottle’ supply chain ensures the company is sustainable for generations to come.

Heilala Vanilla is building a stable, long-term industry for Tonga, redefining corporate-social responsibility by working with an entire nation to transform their future.