Vanilli

Vanilla is a spice obtained from the pods of the Vanilla plant, which originates from tropical countries such as Mexico, Indonesia and Madagascar. Here is some information about vanilla:

• Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world after saffron. This is because the handling process is complicated and takes a long time.
• Vanilla pods must be manually harvested, fermented, and carefully dried to produce their characteristic aroma and flavor.
• Vanilla has a strong, sweet, woody aroma that is popularly used in a variety of foods and drinks, especially in products such as ice cream, cakes, chocolate and perfume.
• There are several main types of commercially traded vanilla, such as Bourbon vanilla, Mexican vanilla, and Tahitian vanilla, each with slightly different flavor profiles.
• Apart from being used as a flavoring, vanilla also has several health benefits, such as being an antioxidant and helping relieve stress.