Where Does Vanilla Come From?

Vanilla plant is known by the Aztecs as tlilxochitl. Tlilxochitl means black flower that matches the color of its fruit after processing. Aztecs used vanilla to flavor drinks made from cacao known by the name of chocolate.

Montezuma, the Aztec emperor of Mexico, is said to serve drinks to the conqueror of Spain, Hernan Cortes in 1520. Cortes then introduced the cocoa and vanilla beans to Europe.

Hot chocolate with a vanilla flavor was very popular in Europe. In 1602, Hugh Morgan, apothecary Queen Elizabeth I suggested the use of vanilla to add flavor or aroma. Vanilla is used in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and perfume in the 1700s.

However, long before the advent of the Aztec empire, the Indians Totonak from Veracruz, Mexico, has been planting, harvesting and processing of fruit vanilla. Therefore, it may be said vanilla is a native plant of Central America.

Vanilla plants were taken to Europe for cultivation in the early 1800's. After that, the vanilla was brought to the islands in the Indian Ocean.

But the efforts of the horticulturist to produce the fruit of this plant was largely unsuccessful, because there was no natural pollinators, bees of the genus Melipona.

Then, Mexico had practically monopolized the trade of vanilla from the 16th century until the 19th century. In 1841, Edmond Albius, a man who had been slaves in the French island of Reunion, perfected a practical method for pollinating flowers by hand, so the plants can bear fruit.

Since then, the commercial cultivation of these plants growing in European countries. The islands of the former French colonies, such as Reunion, Comoro and Madagascar, known as the largest producer of vanilla in the world until now.