Pesach Lubinsky, a postdoctoral researcher in UC Riverside's department of botany and plant sciences, attends to a vanilla orchid. (Credit: UCR Strategic Communications)
Posted on 08/24/2008 11:16:07 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Known by the scientific name Vanilla tahitensis, Tahitian vanilla is found to exist only in cultivation; natural, wild populations of the orchid have never been encountered...
"All the evidence points in the same direction," Lubinsky said. "Our DNA analysis corroborates what the historical sources say, namely, that vanilla was a trade item brought to Tahiti by French sailors in the mid-19th century. The French Admiral responsible for introducing vanilla to Tahiti, Alphonse Hamelin, used vanilla cuttings from the Philippines. The historical record tells us that vanilla – which isn't native to the Philippines – was previously introduced to the region via the Manila Galleon trade from the New World, and specifically from Guatemala."
The Manila galleons (1565-1815) were Spanish trading ships that sailed once or twice each year across the Pacific Ocean between Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco, Mexico. The ships brought Chinese porcelain, silk, ivory, spices, and other exotic goods to Mexico in exchange for New World silver.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Pesach Lubinsky, a postdoctoral researcher in UC Riverside's department of botany and plant sciences, attends to a vanilla orchid. (Credit: UCR Strategic Communications)
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When I hear the term “plain vanila” it makes me feel the same as screeching chalk on a blackboard.
I like to get 1 or 2 good sized vanilla bean pods, cut ‘em open and put them in a bottle of good rum. Meyers, Havana Club, Flor de Cana...use good rum. Let it set for a week or so (the hard part) and then enjoy. Makes a very nice drink.
What, and not pay the couple of dollars extra for the rum/gin/vodka made with artificial flavors?
Where can you get real vanilla beans?
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