Vanilla

Vanille

What it is

The Totonacs of Mexico cured the orchid’s pods first, but outside Mexico the flower refused to fruit — its bee had stayed home. In 1841, Edmond Albius, a twelve-year-old enslaved boy on Réunion island, invented hand-pollination with a thorn, and gave vanilla to the world.

In the kitchen

Split the pod and scrape the seeds, then bury the empty pod in your sugar jar — it will perfume it for months.

Goes with

Cream Dark chocolate Peach Pear Raspberry Coffee

Same species

Vanillon

Also used with

Bergeron apricot Apricot kernel Seville orange Egg white powder (albumin) Brazil nut Cacao pulp

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