Vanilla Bean

Vanilla, which is derived from three species of orchids that produce a fragrant cured fruit, has a long and rich history in Central and South America before it became widely popularized through colonization. Records indicate the first civilization to use vanilla or xanat (nectar of the gods) was the Totonac peoples of eastern Mexico who used it for medicinal and religious purposes. According to legend, Tenitzli III and his wife, which in some stories is the fertility goddess Xanat, were blessed with a beautiful daughter. She was so beautiful that her parents decided she could not marry just anyone and instead dedicated her life to Tonoacayohua, the goddess of crops and subsistence. She grew up in the temple, spending her time bringing offerings to the goddess. It was during one of her trips from the forest that a young man, in some recounts a prince while in others a commoner, caught sight of her and instantly fell in love. Each day the young man returned to watch the princess walk through the forest until one day she stumbled upon his hiding spot. Upon meeting him, she fell in love and desired to be with him. This is where many stories begin to differ. According to one legend, the princess, in a fit of despair at not being able to be with the man she loved, transformed herself into the orchid with a sensuous flavored fruit to express the depths of her love. In other stories, the young lovers ran off together and were later found and killed by the priests of Tonacayohua. Their still-beating hearts were removed and taken back as an offering to the goddess while their bodies were thrown into a ravine. Shortly after their deaths, a strong bush and later a dainty orchid bloomed where their blood had been shed and when the flowers died, a sweetly perfumed pod was left behind. No matter the story, vanilla is deeply associated with love and passion and therefore can be used in love spells and rituals, recipes, incense, and more, especially if you are looking to ignite passions.

The crop must be cured and dried, and so from beginning to end (growth to export) the process takes a solid year. Vanilla is the most labor-intensive crop in the world which is why it’s only second in price to saffron.