Nancy J. Cohen | VANILLA SPICE

Did you know that vanilla is the only edible fruit of the orchid family? It’s
an extremely valuable crop. Vanilla rustling has always been a concern to
growers Thus beans may be branded when they are still green. While the plant
stock is native to Mexico, beans are also grown in places like Indonesia,
Madagascar, and Tahiti. Variations in soil and climate account for the
differences in flavor.

Legend says coffee originated in the Land of the Resplendent Moon. The ruler
was blessed with a beautiful daughter, who dedicated her life to serve the
goddess of crops. One day while gathering flowers in the forest, the girl came
upon a young prince. They fell in love and ran away together. The priests
caught them and beheaded the doomed couple. In the spot where their blood
spilled, a bush grew. A vine sprang from the earth and twisted around the bush
like a pair of embracing lovers. Orchids sprouted on the vine, and when the
flowers died, slender green beans developed. Thus vanilla was born from the
blood of a princess.