Category Archives: Vanilla Knowledge

Vanilla was used as a flavouring by the Totonac people of Mexico centuries before Europeans encountered it. The story of how it travelled to Sumatra and Papua is a story of spice trade, colonialism, and botanical ingenuity.

Vanilla extract contains alcohol — which raises questions for pregnant bakers. Here is a clear, evidence-based answer about vanilla and pregnancy safety.

Search results are full of claims that vanilla helps with weight loss. Here is what the actual science says — and where the line between evidence and hype falls.

Not all vanilla beans are created equal. Here is exactly what to look for — and what to avoid — when assessing the quality of vanilla beans before you buy.

Vanilla is one of the most-used ingredients in fine fragrance. Understanding why perfumers pay extraordinary prices for natural vanillin explains the full scope of this extraordinary plant.

When a pastry chef specifies the vanilla they use, it is almost never what you find in a supermarket. Here is why Indonesian Bourbon Planifolia has become the professional’s choice.

Vanilla is one of the most misunderstood ingredients in any kitchen. Here are 10 things most people believe about vanilla that are simply not true.

Artificial vanilla costs a fraction of the real thing. But the comparison is not purely about price. Here is an honest, data-driven look at what you are choosing between.

Vanillin is the key flavour compound in vanilla — but artificial vanillin comes from wood pulp, not beans. Here is what you are actually buying when you choose one over the other.

The Madagascar vs Indonesia vanilla debate is more nuanced than most guides suggest. Here is an honest comparison of both origins — flavour, vanillin, price, and sustainability.