From culinary uses, to medical purposes, to repelling the bugs Vanilla is indeed an all-around extract that can do wondrous things. It’s amazing how this aromatic flower extract can do such marvel in a variety of ways. Second in line as to being the world’s most expensive spice, vanilla is widely used because of its flavor and sweet-smelling fragrance with the majority of it being produced in Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean just off the southern coast of Africa where the famous Madagascar vanilla beans, also called Madagascar Bourbon are yielded.

Madagascar Vanilla is very costly since its cultivation is made in remote areas where the availability of fertilizers and pesticides to help enhance its growth and to protect it from damaging pests is scarce. And with that a great deal of human labor is needed to meticulously cultivate and handle the vines; because good vanilla will only come from good vines. The condition of the soil is also another factor that can affect the production of good quality vanilla. Madagascar is one of the places where there is major vanilla production because of the loose consistency and high organic content of its soil that permits its growth. Adequate shade is also vital in the vanilla vines’ survival. It also needs a tree or any object that can act as its frame for the veins to go around instead of just germination on the ground. When left in the wild, vanillas can grow up to 15 meters long. However, if they are cultivated, they are kept short so it would be easy for the growers to handle them.

Because of its creamy, hay-like, sweet aromatic scent and strong vanillin properties, the Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla is the most widely used of all vanilla species. Other vanilla species include Mexican Vanilla Beans and Tahitian Vanilla beans. Vanilla is used in so many ways. One is to enhance the flavors of baked cookies, cakes and other dairy delicacies. It is also the most famous ice cream flavor all over the world. Vanilla is also used in medical purposes as in aromatherapy to relive stress and anxiety. There was also a time before that it is used to relive upset stomach. Another purpose of vanilla is that it can be used as an insect repellant. Where the scent of vanilla is pleasing to the human’s sense of smell, it is the other way around for the ticks and mosquitoes. Vanilla extracts are also popular scents for perfumes.