KNOWyourHERBS
Vanilla Beans vanilla planafolia
D
id you know that va- nilla is often referred to as “The Nectar of The Gods”?
The Vanilla Bean (Vanilla
planafolia) was originally dis- covered by Spanish conquis- tadors in Mexico, and later cultivated in other parts of the world. Vanilla Beans promote calm by easing anxiety and tension with its sweet scent and taste. The beans come from drying green pods that are not yet ripe.
Did you know that over 95% of all Vanilla used as a fragrance or flavor is synthetic?
Synthetic vanilla contains only one organic component -
vanillin - the flavor and fragrance that we most associate with vanilla. Because pure vanilla contains so many other flavor and fragrance components, it has a much richer smell and taste than vanillin does by itself. Synthetic vanillin just doesn’t compare with the “real deal.”
Did you know that of all the agricultural crops grown, Vanilla is the most labor-intensive?
It takes approximately 11 lbs. of green vanilla beans to
produce 2 lbs. of black vanilla beans. After the beans ripen, they’re soaked in very hot water and after a couple of ad- ditional steps they are dried out for the next 3 to 4 weeks. They’re rotated according to the weather and are brought in- side each night. Once the process is complete, they are sorted by hand. The whole process is quite time consuming and labor intensive, hence the high cost of vanilla and its various market fluctuations.
Did you know that Vanilla has been long regarded as an aphrodisiac?
There is little doubt that Vanilla is a natural aphrodisiac.
Whether Vanilla’s power of seduction is due to some sexy, stimulating ingredients or simply because of its sensual, calm- ing scent and exotic taste, is a matter of debate. Either way - who cares as long as it works! Documents from the 18th and 19th century make refer-
ence to vanilla as an aphrodisiac for men, especially when it was made into a tincture. And tests conducted in the 1990s at the Institute for Smell and Taste in Chicago found that the aroma was a powerful stimulant to men.
Did you know that you can make your own vanilla extract? The flavor of the bean is in the seeds within the beans.
Slice the bean open lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the mixture to be flavored—you may also add the bean. Home-
Each vanilla bean is han-
dled hundreds of times before it’s ready to use! Vanilla prices are subject to change at any time, and within the past few months we have seen a de- cline in the current prices.
Did you know that from planting the vines to harvest- ing the beans you’re looking at 4-5 years?
Vanilla (or Vanilla Fragrans as genuine Vanilla is known) is a
tropical orchid and so will only grow in countries or areas that are located near the Equator. Consequently, it is commonly grown in countries such as Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, Tahiti, Tonga, East Africa and Costa Rica.
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NaturalTriad.com
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