Vanilla Fun Facts

The definition of the word vanilla is "little pod" in Spanish.

The Aztecs called vanilla tlilxóchitl, meaning black flower.This indicates that they were more interested in the cured bean, which is a dark brown, rather than the flower itself which is a greenish white.

Vanilla is extracted from the curedpods (vanilla beans) of the orchid flowers from vanilla vines

The flower that produces the vanilla bean lasts only one day.

The vanilla vine is an orchid which is indigenous to South Eastern Mexico. Dating back to Cortez's conquest of the Aztec Kingdom in 1519, it is one of the most ancient flavors.

Vanilla first left Mexico in the early 1500s on ships bound for Spain.It was originally believed only to have value as a perfume. It wasn't until Cortes arrived in 1519 that the Spaniards learned it was also a flavor.

Vanilla is the only edible fruit of the orchid family, the largest family of flowering plants in the world. There are over 150 varieties of vanilla plants.

Vanilla is the world's most second most labor-intensive agricultural crop.

French vanilla beans have the distinction of being called "Bourbon" Vanilla because the cultivation first started on the island of Reunion, East of Madagascar. At the time, it was known as the "Island of Bourbon.” Now beans from Reunion, Madagascar and Comoros are considered “Bourbon” Beans.

Until the late 19th century, Mexico had the monopoly on growing vanilla plants, but now Madagascar and Indonesia grow the majority of the world's crop. Additional countries that grow vanilla include Guatemala, Costa Rica, Uganda, China, India, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and the Philippines.

Only the Central American Melipona bee, can naturally pollinate vanilla. In other parts of the world, humans must hand pollinate the vanilla vines.

When the beans are harvested, they are treated with hot water or heat and are then placed in the sun every day for weeks-to-months until they have shrunk to 20% of their original size.

Just like grapes that make wine, no two vanilla beans are the same in flavor, aroma, or color.

A few drops of vanilla will cut the acidity of tomato-based foods.

It is possible to grow the same vanilla vine in Madagascar, Indonesia, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea and India, but all five cured beans would have their own distinctive flavor due to differing soil and climate conditions.

Vanilla plants grow within the 20-degree band either side of the Equator.

The aroma of vanilla is known as calming, relaxing, and sensual, and used as an aphrodisiac in some cultures.

A 1990s study of patients undergoing tests at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York found that the scent of vanilla soothed patients -- especially while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging.

In some cultures, vanilla was a sacred medicinal herb, used to heal and soothe. Dr. John King wrote in the American Dispensatory of 1859, "vanilla is an aromatic stimulant useful in infusions for treating hysteria, rheumatism and low forms of fever. It is said to exhilarate the brain, increase muscular energy and stimulate sexual propensities."

Spiders don't like vanilla. Use whole vanilla beans to drive away those eight-legged creatures.

With a love of botany and cooking, President Thomas Jefferson was the first American to bring vanilla to the United States. Jefferson brought vanilla beans home to the US in 1789 following his tenure as ambassador to France. The United States is the largest consumer of vanilla in the world, followed by Europe (France represents most of European consumption).

To accentuate flavors, add a few drops of vanilla to most recipes that contain fruit, vegetables, meat or fish.

The United States is the world's largest consumer of vanilla, followed by Europe - especially France.

About 1400 tons of dried vanilla is produced worldwide each year.

Vanilla is not only used as a flavor in foods and beverages, but also in perfumes. It's also used in many industrial applications such as a flavoring for medicines and as a fragrance to conceal the strong smell of rubber tires, paint, and cleaning products.

The dairy industry uses a huge percentage of the world's vanilla in ice creams, yogurts, and other flavored dairy products.

Vanilla is still the most favorite ice cream flavor in the US.