Who am I

David Vanille - Spice Hunter

My story

I discovered India during my first solo trip with my backpack at age 20.

This land of spices has become my adopted country along with Nepal.
It was while traveling through vanilla, pepper, and tea plantations that I imagined one day being able to share them with others.

After a long journey to Kashmir, I discovered Saffron and the producers who cultivate it.
I was fascinated by the scents, the people, and the plantations behind these treasures.

After my studies and another stay in the Indian subcontinent, I went to England to master Shakespeare’s language.
Upon my return, I spent a year in Asia to develop my network and better understand the culture of my future partners.

We arrived in Guadeloupe in 2011.
With only 300 euros that I could invest, I started selling my vanilla by walking back and forth on the beach.
Every day I kept going and kept the faith.
My partner would drop me off at Club Med at 8am, at noon, I would walk along the beach and have a sprite at Coco Nack’s then continue my trips back and forth on the beach of Sainte Anne’s town.

In the evening, I would go to markets, to “pop-up” places to sell my vanilla, working long hours but more determined than ever to make my selections known.

Through savings, I was able to invest in Guadeloupe vanilla and new vanilla origins.

In 2012, I went to Madagascar to meet my collector and the producers.
It was also an opportunity for me to learn more about this spice that has fascinated me since I was 18, about the one I was already offering to my family and at markets at the time.

Upon my return, I continued to learn more and more, passionate about my world, about spices thanks to Guadeloupean friends.

In 2013, I was granted the right to have a spot at the rotunda market in Saint François thanks to Sabrina and Roland. I will be forever grateful to them for this opportunity.

My passion became more and more consuming. I could only think about my partner and my plantations.

Since these years, I continuously develop and improve my specifications with my vanilla collectors in different countries.
I constantly receive, every day, updates from plantations and harvests worldwide.

Those who know me, who have met me, can tell you about the love I have for my vanilla selections.

It’s not a job, beyond my passion, it’s my Life!

Each origin you receive at home, each spice is a little part of me.

I sincerely hope you will appreciate the fruit of my work and my total investment in my selections.

All the selections I offer meet strict specifications:

  • Quality and refinement verification.
  • Receiving samples directly from the best plantations
  • Respect for collectors-producers with fair/ethical pricing to maintain a lasting relationship.
  • Development of my range through several trips during or after harvests.

 

Community

Involvement

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Community Relations Initiatives:

Since 1907, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has demonstrated its commitment to civic and social responsibility. We believe we have a responsibility to invest in enhancing the quality of life for our Chicagoland and Southeast Wisconsin communities. Nielsen-Massey’s Community Relations initiatives encompass three main objectives: building relationships with the communities in which we live and work; showing our commitment through financial contributions to charities in support of education, youth, veterans and the environment; and actively promoting volunteer service among our employees and demonstrating as a team that we make a difference.

The Nielsen-Massey Foundation

In 2009, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation was founded with a mission to assist disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts. The Foundation also considers requests for assistance in the development of sustainable environmental practices or for programs benefiting people in countries of need. The board of directors consists of Craig, Beth and Matt Nielsen—third-generation owners of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas—and their mother, Camilla Nielsen.

As reminder, in 2016 we endowed a scholarship at the Culinary Institute of America in the amount of $100,000 so they did not receive a grant in 2023. In addition, we endowed a scholarship this year at Johnson & Wales University in the amount of $100,000.

Organizations we support include: