Plant Portrait: Vanilla

Health benefits

“Vanilla beans have antioxidants that help prevent cell and tissue breakdown, stimulate the body’s natural regrowth and eliminate free radicals”.
∼ Dr. Mercola

Which translate into the following health benefits of the vanilla bean:

• lowers cholesterol;
• helps alleviate arthritis, gout and other inflammation;
• assists in relieving coughs, colds and respiratory infections;
• inhibit cramps and upset stomach (when taken as a tea);
• strengthen hair and blood flow in the scalp (when vanilla oil with carrier oil is used for massaging in the hair);
• speeds up skin healing process and decreases scar appearance (when used topically in combination with a carrier oil).

Based on all these powerful properties, vanilla is nowadays widely used not only in commercial and domestic baking, but also in perfume and cosmetics, as well as in aromatherapy.

Ready to use vanilla beans on the market of Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe in the French
West-Indies.

Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla Tahitenis

Three major species of vanilla

Currently three major species of vanilla are grown globally:

• Vanilla planifolia (known as ”bourbon vanilla” or often just referred as French vanilla): grown on Madagascar, Réunion island and other tropical areas along the Indian ocean. Bourbon Vanilla is arguably the best bean, because of the strongest aroma and the most vanillin; 
• Vanilla tahitensis: grown in the South Pacific, not only in Tahiti but also in Hawaii and other Pacific islands. It has less vanillin, but it has gained appreciation among chefs due to its unique flavour.
• Vanilla pompona: found in the West Indies, Central America and South America.
  This vanilla has low vanillin content and it is mainly sold for cosmetics.

Interesting to know is that the majority of the world’s vanilla is Vanilla planifolia, “bourbon vanilla”. Combined Madagascar and Indonesia produce 2/3 of the world supply of vanilla, in 2016 the total world production was as high as 7940 tonnes!