A Guide to Everything You Should Know About Vanilla Flavor
While vanilla is sometimes used as a synonym for “plain” or “ordinary” the vanilla bean and plant are actually quite extraordinary. From their origins in faraway places to the taste and flavor, both the extract and the beans have an intriguing story. Here’s (almost) everything you need to know about one of the most costly spices in the world. You’ll never look at your favorite cookies or ice cream in quite the same way again.
Where does vanilla come from?
Vanilla originated in Mexico, whence it was brought to Europe by the Spanish. The name is derived from a Spanish word meaning “little pod” and refers to the beans where the flavor is found. It became a popular food flavoring among the wealthy in Europe. It was in France that Thomas Jefferson discovered it, when he was the U.S. ambassador to that country. Jefferson brought the flavor back with him some time in the late 1700s, beginning a love affair that shows no signs of ending.
Nowadays the plan
