Vanilla - the only orchid on our menu

Behind our vanilla there is an exciting story. Because for a long time it was not known why no pods formed outside Mexico.

Export forbidden on pain of death

Do you like vanilla? Then you may be interested to know that the vanilla bean is the fruit of the Vanilla orchid.

Today, vanilla is mainly produced in Madagascar and Indonesia. But originally, vanilla came from the rainforests of Mexico. When the Spanish conquered America in the 16th century, they brought the first vanilla pods to Europe. The export of the plants, however, was forbidden – on pain of death. It was not until the end of the 18th century that small plants mysteriously arrived on Java and La Réunion, but no pods formed.

A Belgian finds the solution to the riddle

Finally, in 1837, a Belgian botanist – Charles Morren – discovered that certain species of bees and hummingbirds essential to pollination in Mexico were not present on Java and La Réunion.

He was the first to succeed with artificial pollination in a greenhouse. Now the first vanilla pods flourished outside Mexico. Today, vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world.