As the definition of it, vanilla is something that’s plain, ordinary and uninteresting. However, despite its unexciting definition, vanilla has already made its mark in popularity. We all know that vanilla is well-known for its use as food flavoring – in cakes, ice cream, pastries, milk and other vanilla recipes and delicacies; it is also used by large companies in the United States as one of their premium scents for perfumes and body lotions because of its sweet smell. What people don’t know is that there’s more to vanilla than just being an ingredient to the mouthwatering recipes and the way it imbues perfumes with its aroma.

Vanilla might be called ordinary because of its common use for culinary purposes, but to those who don’t know it yet, next to saffron, vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the whole world. Why is that? It is because that the production of vanilla beans requires extensive human labor and absolute timing. The orchid vanilla would take 3 years to reach its maturity where it only blooms for just a day. After which, the plant would not bloom until the following year. Once the vanilla plant blossoms, it is then hand-pollinated by the farmers. Pollination in the presence an insect is not possible especially when the cultivation is in Madagascar, because the only insect that’s capable of pollinating the vanilla plant can only be found in Mexico, the Melipona bee. Once ripe, the vanilla pods are then harvested, dried up and then fermented. The whole process would take several months to finish before the vanilla beans and vanilla bean extracts are made ready for exporting. So talk about being plain and ordinary, eh?

Perhaps most of us think that all vanilla taste just the same, that vanilla is just vanilla. Actually, this notion is not totally true. Depending on certain factors - the country where the vanilla plant is cultivated as in the Madagascar vanilla, the maturity of the vanilla pod when harvested, the method used in curing the beans and the process used in the production of vanilla extracts; it is most likely that the vanilla concentrate will yield a different taste. In addition, vanilla is also used to potentiate other flavors such that of a nut, chocolate, coffee, or any fruit without having its own flavor and strong aroma distinguished especially when only a small portion of the vanilla extract is used. As a matter of fact, a vanilla could turn a tangy citrus fruit flavor into something that’s velvety.

Because vanilla is very expensive and not all consumers can afford the retailed price, other manufacturers have come up with some of the cost saving ideas with the vanilla beans. One idea presented is the formulation of a synthetic vanilla extract derived from the usual mixed choices of selected vanilla beans, still offering the same creamy taste and quality with that of pure vanilla extracts. These are just some of the facts that one must know about vanilla. That vanilla is really not just something that’s dull as what its definition would imply but extraordinary and interesting.

When vanilla is being talked about, what usually comes to our minds is the flavor of the ice cream, pastries, milk drink, cookie filling, food ingredient, scent of a perfume and other vanilla recipes. What we do not know about vanilla, specifically the vanilla beans is that it has other benefits that are essential to human health.

Along time ago, the Aztecs used the vanilla bean oil extracts as an aphrodisiac. It has also been proven that they can relieve any erectile dysfunctions, arouse previously shaken off sexual desires and even cure impotency. The aphrodisiac effect of vanilla to a person is mainly because of the stimulation of both the male and the female sexual hormones making both sexes more inclined to a sexual act. Although subtle, it has also been used as a relaxing agent for the senses, nerves and muscles in terms of aroma therapy.

Maybe not all of us are aware of it, but vanilla bean also has a cleansing effect to the body. It rids the body of any toxins that are detrimental to one’s health. It prevents the body’s cells and tissues from dying. The dying process of the cells is called oxidation, wherein the free radicals and the oxidants are burning the tissues causing then to die. By preventing this process, the human body’s immune system is boosted, making you less likely to become sick; vision and hearing organs are not impaired, and mental stability is maintained. In addition to being an antioxidant, another reason why vanilla is beneficial to our health is that it can also act as an anti-cancer agent. Vanilla has certain oils that check the growth of cancer cell.

Vanilla beans extracts also act as an anti-pyrogenic agent, which relieves fever. The febrifuge effect of vanilla is because of its Eugenol and Vanillin Hydroxybenzaldehyde. These two components also act in preventing tissue inflammation. Another thing that’s good about vanilla is that it elates one’s personal behavior. Anyone who is depressed or feels bad about themselves, when offered with any vanilla recipes such as an ice cream or a vanilla drink turns out to feel good about themselves. Even just smelling the rich aroma of vanilla already calms a person, how much more when tasted?

Vanilla also acts as an insect repellent. To us people, vanilla is the sweetest. However, the insects’ sense of smell specifically the mosquitoes, find it quite irritating. So you see? Vanilla is not just used as a food flavoring or perfume, but it is also used in other ways that are beneficial to our health.