Little over a century has passed since vanilla was introduced into the market for commercial use. Nowadays, vanilla in its pure and natural form is available in supermarkets, gourmet shops and convenience stores. Vanilla is widely used in culinary purposes as a spice or food ingredient. Pure and natural vanilla extracts are in demand nowadays not just as a main ingredient or flavoring in dishes and pastries but as scents for perfumes, lotions, aroma therapy and herbal medicines. What sets vanilla apart from other spices is its unique aroma and taste.

Organic vanilla extracts are now cultivated in different parts of the world with Madagascar, Mexico, Tahiti and Indonesia as the major players. Other countries where vanilla is grown are Jamaica, India, Costa Rica Jamaica and Uganda. The all-natural vanilla extracts are quite expensive because of its cultivation and processing history. It is ideal for use in breads and cookies, ice cream, smoothies and other beverages and tasty treats. Real organic vanilla was first produced and used in Madagascar, the major supplier of vanilla all over the world.

Vanilla in any form, may it be in extract, beans, pods, powder or paste has a strong appeal to the masses because of its distinctive aroma that’s sweet and captivating, mild yet arousing. Because of its aroma, vanilla is also used as a way to crash down on food intake. The smell of vanilla in meat sauces, marinades and dishes can already make a person feel satiated in hunger.

To complement the aroma is the sweet taste of vanilla. Some chefs blend vanilla with their gourmet dishes in order to potentiate the flavor of the gourmet. When mixed with citrus, vanilla masks the tangy taste of the fruit. However, not all vanilla byproducts – beans, pods, extracts, sugars and pastes taste the same. The flavor of vanilla is dependent to where it is cultivated. For some, the vanilla that came from Tahiti is the most flavorful.

Because vanilla in its natural form is a very expensive commodity, other people settle on using synthetic vanilla extracts and flavors in their baking and cooking needs that are found in grocery stores and super markets. However, these artificially made vanilla extracts are still no match to the high grade quality of the all-natural vanilla products – extracts, vanilla pods, vanilla beans, paste and powder. When you buy vanilla, it is always wise to buy it in its natural form to maximize the other benefits it brings.

What makes pure natural vanilla more favorable compared to synthetic vanilla among chefs and household moms in their baking pleasures? The answer lies mainly on one thing; the taste. Pure vanilla is very expensive in the sense that among the hundreds of spices listed, vanilla is the most labor-intensive and requires more than a year to produce. The name vanilla comes from the Spanish word vainilla which means little pod.

The three major exporters and makers of the finest vanilla in the world are located in Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico. Most of the supplies of vanilla around the world come from Madagascar which amounts to a total of 70-80% of the global supply of vanilla. When it comes to aroma, the vanilla coming from Tahiti is the most favored because of its enticing and intoxicating scent. For some, the vanilla that came from Mexico is the most flavorful of all.

Nowadays, due to advancements in research and studies, synthetic form of vanilla was created. However, this form of vanilla is nothing compared to the pure and natural vanilla. Both differ in so many aspects with the natural form of vanilla taking the most credit and favor despite of the cheapness of the synthetic form.

Because cultivating vanilla and producing vanilla extracts and byproducts requires intensive labor, it is also very costly. One whole vanilla pod contains minutes black vanilla beans that produce up to 2-3 teaspoons of rich vanilla extract. This is the reason why the vanilla bean pods are highly valued and appreciated. The vanilla extract is used in food flavoring and other purposes like ingredients in perfumes, lotions and medicinal purposes. This aromatic spice is also useful in assisting a person in his or her weight loss regimen as well as arousal of sex drive.

The synthetic form of vanilla is poorer in quality especially when it comes to taste. Those that are sold in the market are far from coming close to the original vanilla taste. The big difference among the two is that synthetic or artificially made vanilla is not even real vanilla. Artificial vanilla is dark in color while the original form of vanilla is clear. Some of the artificially made vanillas that are sold in the market nowadays are made from the substances that are found in the sap of certain trees.

Pure vanilla stays longer whereas synthetic vanillas don’t. This is because of the fact that pure vanilla extracts contain alcohol, necessary in creating and maintaining rich flavor and aroma; whereas the synthetic form don’t. Synthetic vanillas also contain red dye that is responsible for their dark murky color.

When you buy vanilla beans or vanilla extracts and the likes, see to it that they are all natural. Be careful in buying those cheap vanillas that are sold in the market as most of them are unnatural.

Vanilla is also known as a potent aphrodisiac. The intoxicating aroma of vanilla comes from the vanilla beans that are encapsulated within the vanilla pods. While still young and unprocessed, vanilla pods are odorless. You will only notice the scent of the vanilla during the curing process. In 1518, during Cortez’s conquests of the new world, emperor Montezuma of the Aztecs was fond of drinking a regal beverage known as Chocolatl. This chocxolatl is a chocolate drink with a mixture of pure vanilla extract. This is how they discovered the aphrodisiac property of vanilla. Upon knowing this, Cortez took the spice with him back in Spain.

The use of vanilla as an aphrodisiac can be dated back in the 1700s, when a series of test was done to check for the male potency. The impotent subjects were made to drink the pure vanilla extracts. After the test, these men had their mojos back and became astonishing lovers. After which, vanilla was then popularly known as a potent aphrodisiac. Before, vanilla extracts are drunk to experience its id effect. It was eventually found out that the enticing smell of vanilla is also as powerful enough.

Some of the Totonaca people even wore vanilla beans on their hats, while some women bad vanilla extracts behind their ears and pulse points to attract men. This is what made vanilla also a popular choice of fragrance in perfumes. After which vanilla also became popular in the kitchen where it is used to give the recipes their sensual aroma and palatability.

There is really something about the vanilla aroma that draws people especially men into it. For some, they find the vanilla aroma as something that’s sweet, pure yet exotic and denotes a sexy feel. Of all the available aromatherapy scents, vanilla is the one smell that mature men find arousing. This is according to the research study and test conducted by a neurologist Alan Hirsch in Chicago.

The sense of taste and smell are two important factors when it comes to the arena of love. The Heliotropin, the sweet and exotic fragrance of vanilla is responsible for the soothing and sexual effect of vanilla to the human body. Notice how vanilla can affect a person’s central nervous system? Amazing isn’t it? Whether you choose to drink, or mix vanilla with food, or even use as a perfume, vanilla is indeed a potent aphrodisiac.

There is a lot more to vanilla than just a bon appetite. Other than its use in one of the chef’s main courses or desserts, vanilla has always been a favorable scent for perfumes, lotions and in candles. However, vanilla doesn’t just stop there. We owe the heavenly scent and the rich flavorful taste of vanilla to its organic components such as vanillin, glycerin, glucovanillin and sugar. Other than the aroma and flavor, Vanilla also yields a lot of useful health advantages in which everybody can benefit from especially from the vanilla beans.

Before, even until now, vanilla is used to aid in discomforts of the stomach. It offers great relief to a queasy stomach. Feeling nauseous is the last thing any person would want to have. If you are nauseated because of pregnancy, or just underwent chemotherapy, the best natural and organic way to fight off that nausea is to by adding a few drops of vanilla extract in water and drink it. It will help you ease up your queasy stomach. You might also want to try breathing in the aroma as you sip the water with vanilla. This will also help you relax.

Vanilla also has a carcinogenic effect. Scientific studies have showed that the vanillin in the processed and cured vanilla beans inhibits the development of fast growing abnormal cells in the breasts. So to the ladies and gentlemen out there, make to incorporate natural vanilla extracts in your drinks and foods. Natural form of vanilla extracts and vanilla beans might be expensive, but think about the money you can save from hospital bills, operation cost and chemo therapy cost when you have a breast cancer.

Vanilla is also a potent antioxidant. It rids your body with the free radicals which are responsible in the early aging of your skin. It is also a good moisturizer, leaving your skin soft and supple. With its anti-oxidant property, the extract from the vanilla beans may also be associated with its ant carcinogenic property. It used as Vanilla is also an anti-allergenic. It prevents allergies associated to hypersensitivity to products or pollens and other allergy causing allergens.

These are just some of the many healthful benefits of vanilla. Through continuous research and scientific studies, researchers are still looking for ways on how vanilla can be useful in our health aside from its purpose as a spice. There are many types of vanilla and one type which is considered to the best vanilla is the Bourbon vanilla beans made in Madagascar Island. When you buy vanilla beans, see to it that you get the right quality of vanilla.