Forget Plain Vanilla: You'll Never See The World's Favorite Flavor the Same Way Again

Today, 'vanilla' often means boring, and yet the edible seedpod of
this Central American orchid is one of the most expensive spices in
the world, not to mention one of the most popular flavors globally.
So how did this coveted bean get such a ho-hum reputation? Listen
in this episode as Gastropod travels to vanilla's homeland in the
highlands of Veracruz, Mexico, to investigate. It's a tale of
botanical piracy, beaver butts, and ice-cream barges, in which an
ingenious enslaved tween and the product of pulp paper waste
combine to transform vanilla from a complex and sophisticated elite
treat into the single-note synonym for dull. Plus, we meet the
thrilling alternative vanillas we're all missing out on, and serve
up the recipe for a vanilla tasting party that's guaranteed to make
you fall back in love with the world's favorite flavor. You'll
never see vanilla as plain again! Learn more about your ad choices.
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