![]() The flavor profile of Mexican Vanilla Beans is similar to Madagascar vanilla beans though the Mexican vanilla has a mellower, smooth, quality and a spicy, woody fragrance that provides a depth that the other vanilla beans can't match. Mexican vanilla beans are thicker than other varieties. Mexico actually had a monopoly on vanilla beans until the 1800's explorers started exporting them to other countries. Mexican vanilla beans, from the genus planifolia, have a reputation for being the best vanilla beans in the world – vanilla did originate in this area so you shouldn't be surprised. Madagascar vanilla beans work extremely well with apples, eggs, fish, ice cream, melon, milk, peaches, pears and strawberries. These vanilla beans are the thinnest of the four types and also have the most flavor. Bourbon vanilla beans are the most popular type of vanilla, resulting from their clear and creamy flavor and the fact that Madagascar is the world's top producer of vanilla. These islands include Madagascar, the Comoros, and Réunion, formerly the Île Bourbon (where Bourbon Vanilla gets its' name). ![]() ![]() Instead, these vanilla beans from the genus planifolia, which originated in the Americas, are grown on the islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar vanilla beans, also known as Bourbon vanilla beans, have nothing to do with bourbon or any other type of alcohol (unless you are making vanilla extract). This is not only caused by the differences in climate and soil, but also by each regions' unique method of curing and drying. ![]() Just like chile peppers and wine, different vanilla beans have different flavor profiles depending on where they are grown. Today, four different types of vanilla are grown around the world, but they can all be traced back to the one original type of Mesoamerican vanilla ‘fruit'. This opened doors for vanilla production outside of Mexico that otherwise would not be possible. He did this when he discovered that vanilla orchids could be hand pollinated. In 1841 the second attempt to artificially pollinate vanilla orchids was done by a slave named Edmond Albius who lived on the French island of Réunion, formerly known as Bourbon, in the Indian Ocean. The first effort, in 1837, was by a Belgian botanist named Charles François Antoine Morren who found a way to artificially pollinate the vanilla orchids, but this venture turned out to be financially unworkable. For many years, attempts were made to spread vanilla production to other countries. This vanilla ‘fruit' was originally grown in Mesoamerica, part of which is where Mexico is located today. The word vanilla comes from the Spanish word "vaina" which translates to little pod. Most people could tell you that vanilla comes from a bean, but what kind of plant does that bean grow on? Vanilla beans are derived from the orchid plant of the genus Vanilla. We're here to help you decided which type of vanilla is best for the dish or dessert you are making and to answer some other questions you might have. ![]() These recipes may not specify which type of vanilla to use, and if you are new to using spices that are not sold with a generic "vanilla" label on them, this may be a little bit confusing. During the holiday season, we come in contact with a wide variety of recipes which call for vanilla in some form or fashion. ![]()
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