Vanilla is One of the most appreciated and consumed spices throughout the world, which is due to its characteristic and delicious aroma and flavour. Its origin, although it may surprise us, is in a tropical region and in a flower shaped like an orchid.
If you want to know more about this spice that is not missing in baking, but also in creams, candles, soaps and everything that has the pleasant vanilla smell, Stay to know everything in the article we have prepared today.
Origin and cultivation of vanilla
Vanilla has been used since ancient times by pre-Hispanic cultures, such as the Totonacs in the present-day state of Veracruz, Mexico, who are said to be the first to cultivate it. The Aztecs, under the rule of Moctezuma II, also used vanilla as a ingredient used to flavor chocolate. However, the spice would not be known outside America until the arrival of European colonizers in the 16th century.
El Wild vanilla origin dates back to the tropical region of Central America and Mexico, where it grows in the form of an orchid of the Vanilla genus. The plant most commonly associated with vanilla production is the Vanilla planifolia, although there are other species that also produce this spice such as vanilla tahitensis and vanilla pompom.
The name "vanilla" comes from the Spanish word "vaina", referring to the pod where the seeds of the plant are. And it is that vanilla, It is obtained from the immature fruits of the plant, which are long, thin pods that, once harvested, undergo a careful curing process so that their aroma and flavor develop.
Cultivation process
Growing the vanilla plant It is not a simple process, it requires very specific environmental conditions.We are talking about a plant that grows naturally in a tropical climate, so it prefers warm and humid conditions with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 32ºC. In addition, direct and abundant sunlight is harmful to it, so it needs partial shade, as it is accustomed to growing under the shade of trees.
On the other hand, an added complication that is at the same time a interesting feature of vanilla flower: their pollination. The flowers are hermaphrodite, but They open only once a year and their life is very short. This means that pollination must be done manually. In their natural habitat, bees are responsible for pollinating these and many other flowers, but when these workers are not present, it must be the human hand of the grower who pollinates the flowers to ensure a good harvest.
Harvest and curing
Once the flowers are pollinated, they begin to produce pods (like the ones you can see in the image of the trees in the lower area). These pods They take between 7 and 9 months to mature. Once ready, they are harvested and subjected to a curing process that can last up to another six months. This process is essential for the pods to develop the characteristic aroma and flavour of vanilla. This process consists of blanching the pods in hot water, letting them dry in the sun and storing them under controlled environmental conditions.
The curing process is essential to achieving the desired quality of the pods. The essence of the vanilla develops during this time, allowing it to achieve its characteristic aroma and flavor so appreciated by consumers.
Overall production
The largest producer of vanilla that exists today is located in Madagascar, where 80% is produced of all world production. The remaining 20% is produced in Mexico, Indonesia, India and Tahiti. However, all vanilla production is experiencing problems associated with climate change and the high demand for the product that exceeds supply. All of this has raised the price of vanilla to the point of making it one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Uses of vanilla
Vanilla can be used in a wide variety of products and can therefore have a wide variety of uses. In the food industry, is a flavoring important in ice cream, pastries, chocolate and drinks. But in addition to food, which has always been its main use, it is used in world of perfumery and cosmetics or personal care due to its sweet aroma and the benefits it has for the skin such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and soothing.
Vanilla also has multiple and interesting properties such as being Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, has a calming effect, improves digestion and is bactericidal.For all these reasons, it is also used in nutritional therapies or aromatherapy. Another property associated with vanilla is the increase in sexual desire as an aphrodisiac.
Now, not everything sold as vanilla is natural vanilla, there is also There is artificial vanilla, which is much cheaper but lacks the properties and the characteristic and natural flavour of vanilla extracted from nature. We must therefore be careful when purchasing vanilla which of the two options we are buying.
