Vanilla Bean

Vanilla is the cured, full grown, unripe fruit of Vanilla planifolia, often known as Mexican, Bourbon or Madagascar vanilla, or Vanilla tahitensis, known as Tahitian vanilla. The plant which produces vanilla bean is an orchid, native of the tropical forests of Mexico, but now grown in many other parts of the globe, including Madagascar, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Tahiti, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.

Vanilla is not an easy crop to grow, and requires very specific conditions to flower and thrive. As a result of these growing requirements, weather patterns that do not always cooperate and a long growth period (8-9 months after flowering), it’s quite an expensive herb. In fact, global shortages have been experienced in recent years.

Vanillin, an organic compound, is the primary chemical constituents extracted from vanilla pods. It has been shown to have several biological activities, including antioxidant, liver-protective and antitumor.