Collective Food Works’ Post

Did you know that while vanilla is now grown worldwide, this plant has developed a symbiotic relationship with the Melipona? According to Nielsen Massey, the Melipona is a Mexican bee, the only one that specifically evolved to pollinate the vanilla orchid flower. Based on this fact, it should come as no surprise that vanilla itself is native to Mexico, but it begs the question, how did vanilla extract become so popular? As we shared in our last post about the history around flavor extracts, vanilla extract is created by separating the essential oils of the plant and adding them to a liquid base. In the case of vanilla extract, vanillin (the flavor behind vanilla) is utilized alongside hundreds of other flavor compounds. The unique process through which vanilla extract is made, specifically the grinding of the vanilla beans, also makes it impossible for vanilla extract to be clear in color unless it is artificially made. For more information around the history of vanilla extract, be sure to check out the following link: https://lnkd.in/dF8perVk. #foodhistory #foodfacts

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