Vanilla crescents, vanilla pudding, vanilla ice cream, ... The vanilla is a, especially now in the Christmas season, very popular spice that everyone knows. Since it is the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron, vanilla is also called the "Queen of Spices". But what does such a vanilla plant actually look like and which part of the plant provides us with the so popular flavor?
Vanilla (lat. Vanilla planifolia) belongs to the orchid family and is a perennial plant rooted on the ground, which climbs up to 10 m with its adhesive and suction roots to the tops of large jungle trees. The racemose, white-green inflorescences with 8 to 10 finger-long individual flowers appear inconspicuous; only one flower blooms per day and only for a few hours in the morning. In this short period the flower must be fertilized, otherwise it falls off. About 5-7 months after fertilization, the capsule fruits (not pods!) are ready for harvest.
The fact that real vanilla is such an expensive spice is due in part to pollination. In the ecosystem of Mexico, the original home of vanilla, the intricate flowers were long pollinated exclusively by natural means via hummingbirds and insects. Around the middle of the 19th century, a way to artificially pollinate the plants was found on the island of Bourbon (now Réunion). Today, the growing areas around the Indian Ocean supply 80% of the world's harvest.
But it is not only the propagation of vanilla that is complicated. The cultivation of vanilla and its processing into a spice are also very complex. If you are interested in this particular process, just have a look here:
Video DW: www.dw.com/de/der-duft-der-vanille/a-18940635 (as at: 06.12.2021)
Quellen: Lieberei, R.; Reisdorff, C. (2012): Nutzpflanzen. 8. Auflage. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag, S. 334-335. // Botanischer Garten TU BS (Hrsg.): Wie schmeckt die Welt? Eine spannende Reise durch die Vielfalt der Gewürze. Braunschweig, S. 14-15.
Besides vanilla, many other spices are used in Christmas baking and in our everyday dishes. Since the topic of spices is definitely one of our program classics and it is very exciting and diverse, we would like to give you a little insight into the colorful and delicious world of spices this month. Have fun puzzling & smelling!