all about spices and herbs

Synonyms: vanilla orchid, vanille
Origin: the climbing orchid, is native to southern Mexico, Guatemala and other Central American countries. Today, vanilla is grown both in Central America and on Madagaskar and the Reunion and Comoros islands. High quality vanilla is called “bourbon vanilla”.
Aroma: the smell of vanilla is intense and slightly sweet. Its taste is also sweet and slightly spicy.
Use: vanilla is used to season chocolate, coffee, desserts of any type, custard, stewed fruit, and fruit salads. The taste of battercakes, pastries and cakes is improved with vanilla. In Mexico, even savory food like shellfish and meat dishes are seasoned with vanilla.
Buying/storing: vanilla is among the most expensive spices. You can buy vanilla beans in jars every well-supplied supermarket. Excellent quality vanilla is available under the name “bourbon-vanilla”. When buying vanilla beans in a spice store, you can choose between various quality and origins. Vanilla beans should be stored in an airtight, container in a cool, dark place.
Properties:Vanilla beans are the long, thin fruits of the vanilla orchid, which climbs 50 feet high tropical trees. The plant has thick, fleshy, oval leaves 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. The blossom is relatively small compared to the leaves and its color is white-yellow or greenish. Wild blossoms open only for a few hours and are pollinated by hummingbirds. Vanilla in cultivated form is pollinated manually. In 6-8 months, the vanilla stripes are harvested unripe and then fermented. The green-yellow fruits turn black-brown and develop an intense aroma. Vanilin is the most aromatic substance of this spice.
Mythology: The Aztec spiced their chocolate with vanilla to increase sexual desire. Indigeneous people from North America used dried vanilla as currency.
Medicinal Use: the Indians used vanilla both as a spice and as a medicine. They attributed heart-stimulating effects to it. Like cocoa, vanilla is said to reduce fear, depression and fatigue.

Did you know….?
The difference between vanilla sugar and vanillin sugar is that vanilla sugar is produced from genuine vanilla. Vanillin sugar contains only synthetically produced vanillin, an aromatic substance which smells like vanilla.
You can make vanilla sugar yourself: Put 1 scraped-out pod with 1 cup sugar in a jar with a lid and set aside for at least 6 weeks.

Tips for cooking:
In order to use the flesh, cut the fruit lengthwise and scrape it out. The fruit is not edible on its own.