Vanilla: What it is
A vanilla bean is the seedpod of the climbing orchid vanilla planifolia, and its flavour comes from the seeds. Though menus often play up vanilla from Tahiti or Madagascar, vanilla’s roots lie in Mexico, where its habitat stretched along the edge of forests from Mexico to Venezuela. Vanilla was prized by the Aztecs who used it to flavour their famous drink xocolatl – cocoa beans, honey and vanilla. However, it was the much-chronicled conquistador Hernando Cortez who wooed Europeans with vanilla’s seductive powers.
Mexico held the monopoly on vanilla until the mid-19th century, when the French hand-pollinated beans from propagated cuttings on the Bourbon Islands off the coast of Africa. The flowers develop into long, thin odourless and tasteless green beans. These are picked while still unripe, plunged into hot water, dried in the sun and wrapped in blankets to “sweat” at night for up to six months. Then the beans mature for up to two years into the fragrant, dark and leathery beans we know and love.
Vanilla: Buying and storing
Vanilla beans are commonly sold in small tubes in fine food stores. Look for moist, plump beans with a bit of a sheen. (Don’t waste money on dried, shrivelled twigs.) Stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, beans keep for up to one year.
Using vanilla
• Vanilla beans are easy to use. Split lengthwise and scrape out seeds (one whole vanilla bean equals 2 to 3 tsp 10 to 15 mL vanilla extract). Add seeds and pod to custards, syrups and liquor to steep.
• Pure vanilla extract is the most popular way that vanilla is used. Made by percolating vanilla beans with ethyl alcohol and water, pure vanilla extract must contain at least 35 per cent alcohol (so don’t add to hot liquids because the alcohol evaporates, taking some flavour). Most companies use a blend of beans to create their signature flavour. However, single region vanilla extracts with unique flavours are available in specialty stores. Vanilla will keep indefinitely in a cool, dark place. Refrigeration is not recommended.
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