Vanilla
By jayababy, 21st Jun 2011 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutGuidesScienceNature
Vanilla is a natural essence. The vanilla plants are cultivated and the essence is produced from the pods of vanilla plant.
Vanilla plants
India is known for its spices. Spices add aroma and flavor to food stuff . India is famous for spices like pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Yet, there is another lesser known spice vanilla, which is mainly used in ice creams. It is derived from orchids. The name came from the Spanish word ‘vanilla’. It is natural essence, is superior in quality and preferred all over the world. It is cultivated mostly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, North-east region, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar islands.
All most 90% of the world vanilla production comes from the Indian Ocean. Island nations – Madagascar and Indonesia. India is currently the 6th largest with an annual supply of 100 M T . USA is the major exporter with almost 2/3 of the world imports followed by the Netherlands, France, the UK, and Germany.
Vanilla plantation
There was a mythological story about cultivation of vanilla. It was first cultivated by Totonac people who inhabited the Mazatlan Valley in Mexico. Xanat, the princess, fled to the forest with her lover but the lovers were captured and beheaded. The vanilla orchid grew where their blood touched the ground.
Soon, Aztecs conquered Totonacs and developed taste for vanilla, later spread to Mauritius, France and all over the world. The market price of vanilla rose heavily 1970s and remained constant due to frequent cyclones. The word vanilla entered in the English dictionary in 1754 which means ‘little pod.’
Types of vanilla
Bourbon Vanilla; extracted from Indian Ocean islands i.e. Madagascar.
Mexican Vanilla: produced much less quantity and marketed from the origin. Whereas extract of Tonka bean which also smells like vanilla is commercially sold in the markets around Mexico.
Tahitian Vanilla: produced from French Polynesia, introduced by French Admiral, Francois Alphonse Hamelin.
West Indian Vanilla: grown in Carribean, central and South America.
The characteristic flavor and smell of vanilla is due to the presence of Vanillin in addition to many other compounds in the extracts of vanilla. But vanilla can also be produced synthetically from lignin, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry. Commercial vanilla is made from Grade-B beans. Artificial vanilla-like flavors or low quality are more common since true vanilla is more expensive.
Major uses of Vanilla
Vanilla is mostly used in ice creams, coffee, cakes, custard, chocolate, cosmetics and in perfumes. The essential oils of vanillin or vanilla are used in aromatherapy.
Comments
21st Jun 2011 (#)
Hey, I grow vanila and they are organic. Thanks for this article.
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Is it?/ Then, you can have pure vanilla.
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Nice article. I like vanila and i would love to gow it in my house.
but can i grow it in a pot? Will that work?
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Growing vanilla in the house/pot is new for me. U can get proper guidance through Google search.
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Ok, i'll make a search on that and why not write an article about it. LOL
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
hahahhhaaaa..others may get bored for repetition.
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Don't worry, we don't write only for wikinutters. Other people will be benifited from our writings. ;)
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Nice article and Saurik if you do find the option please post it :) I will be glad to learn
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Sure i will Prasul. ;)
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
Thank you jayababy very interesting article.
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
Thx a lot, Crystal.
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21st Jun 2011 (#)
good guide on Vanilla. great pictures too
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
hi Mark, thx for the motivating comment.
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
Just lovely jayababy, a great article, thank you!
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
hi Delicia, thx a lot for your lovely comment.
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
This was great information about Vanilla. Thank you, jayababy.
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22nd Jun 2011 (#)
I love the smell of vanilla, and always have vanilla scented candles in the house. What a great article, Jayababy...Thanks for the share...
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24th Jun 2011 (#)
its costly too right?
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