About Vanilla

Vanilla has its roots in Mexico and is the fruit of the orchid. The French imported Vanilla into Madagascar in the 19th century, and the island has been associated with the spice ever since. Madagascar is now the world's leading vanilla producer, while Papua New Guinea and Indonesia are also significant sources.

Vanilla Planifolia, the vanilla orchid, was once found growing wild around the Gulf of Mexico, throughout the Caribbean, and along the Pacific coast from Tampico to Ecuador. The Totonac people of Veracruz, Mexico, were among the first to cultivate Vanilla on farms, starting as early as 1185.

It wasn't until 1841 that Edmond Albius discovered how to pollinate the vanilla flower by hand, a crucial development that allowed for the mass production of the spice. Although Vanilla pods thrive under the right conditions, their flowers have a short lifespan and fall off at night.