Vanilla is a tropical vine of the orchid family that is grown in certain parts of the world like Indonesia, Tahiti, Mexico and Madagascar. Despite of its economic condition, Madagascar is known to be the leading exporter of vanilla all over the world. As of now there are three kinds of vanilla beans that are commonly used; Bourbon vanilla beans, Mexican vanilla beans and Tahitian vanilla beans. Bourbon vanilla is considered to be the most expensive of all vanilla beans.

Second most expensive spice all over the world, vanilla is a popular ingredient for almost any recipes – cakes, pastries, ice cream, beverages and a lot more. Other than its use for culinary purposes, vanilla is also known for its medicinal usage. Before, vanilla is used as an aphrodisiac. It’s also a useful anti-depressant and an anti-cancer agent. Vanilla is also popularly known for its sweet aroma that’s why is used as fragrance for perfumes and body lotion.

Vanilla started out originally as a spice. Second to saffron, vanilla is the most expensive spice in the world because of the extensive labor that is required in the production of vanilla. So why is vanilla used as an ingredient? Vanilla is used in almost all vanilla recipes because it gives an aromatic sweet flavor to any recipe. Vanillin, the pure form of vanilla is what really gives vanilla its original flavor and scent.

Vanilla is popularly used as an ingredient and flavoring for desserts like in creams, cakes and pastries. The vanilla flavor in this food stuff may be achieved by adding some vanilla essence or by cooking vanilla pods or beans. The tiny vanilla beans or seeds contained in the vanilla pods are used to make any recipe more flavorful with its sweet flowery flavor when mixed.

Because of its fruity top note flavor, vanilla is popularly used as flavoring for ice creams; thus the vanilla ice cream is termed as a common or plain ice cream flavor. Vanilla is also used in appetizers or in salad dressings. Beverages like coffee, milk and wines also have vanilla in them. Vanilla is sometimes mixed with home made herbal medicines to make a flowery sweet flavor.

Vanilla is used in almost any recipe there is. Nowadays, because vanilla in its original form is very expensive, synthetic vanilla flavors are sold in the market. They yield the same aromatic smell like the original ones, however they differ in taste. The synthetic form of vanilla lacks sweetness.