“Who would have thought vanilla could be so riveting?” – Dame Prue Leith
Ever since LittlePod’s launch in 2010, LittlePod have been telling the story of real vanilla and its ecological value to the planet. Now, the Managing Director and founder, Janet Sawyer MBE BEM, has penned the next chapter – quite literally – in what has become a gripping tale.
For the last 15 years, Janet has led LittlePod’s Campaign for Real Vanilla, encouraging home cooks, professional chefs and food manufacturers to use natural ingredients through the development of their natural vanilla paste and other innovative products. In the process, they have supported communities across the Equatorial Belt and established their collaborative forest orchard in Indonesia, where the LittlePod farmers use a pioneering polyculture system to increase biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and regenerate the rainforest.
This is a story told in Janet’s second book. Real Vanilla: Nature’s Unsung Hero, The Rather Large Story of LittlePod is due to be published by Unicorn in May.
“At a time of societal upheaval around the world, the story of LittlePod reminds us of our interconnectedness and the need to co-operate with trust and patience to save our precious environment,” said Janet. “This book tells the story of how I put my hand up to do my bit, launching LittlePod and our Campaign for Real Vanilla to educate and enlighten people about the value of vanilla, where it comes from and its importance to the planet.”
“I launched LittlePod and brought to market our innovative natural vanilla paste in a tube – a product designed to make it easier than ever to use REAL vanilla.” she continued. “Thanks to everyone who has supported LittlePod and used our products during the last 15 years, we have helped save vanilla for the next generation and given our farmers a secure future. I’m grateful to everyone who continues to keep it REAL and I am excited to have been able to write this book and tell this important story.”
Real Vanilla: Nature’s Unsung Hero is available to pre-order from Amazon and other online retailers now and will be in bookshops across the UK from 26th May, when it is due to be published.
Janet is looking forward to attending a series of book signings and promotional events this summer, including a UK launch and vanilla-themed dinner at Darts Farm, winners of the Best Farm Shop and Best Farm Restaurant 2025 at the recent Farm Retail Association Awards, and a European launch in Berlin. She is also planning to take her book to Tokyo when LittlePod returns to Japan later this year.
“A journey into the flavour of sustainability, this is horticulture with heart.” – Sue Medway MBE, Director, Chelsea Physic Garden
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