Vanilla beans
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Vanilla |
| Scientific name | Vanilla fragrans |
| Taxonomic group | Orchidaceae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Economic botany | Food plants |
| Food plants | Seasonings |
| Date | 1985 |
| Location | Costa Rica,North America |
Vanilla. A native of Central America and Mexico, this is the only orchid used as a food. In most areas where it is grown, the flowers have to be pollinated by hand. The unripe fruits (often called ?beans? though they are not legumes) are harvested, then heated and dried in several stages, after which they are allowed to sit for a few months before they are ready to use as a flavoring.
