What is the scientific name of Vanilla planifolia?
Vanilla planifolia. Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Central America, and is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names are flat-leaved vanilla, Tahitian vanilla, and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona).
What is Vanilla planifolia or pompona?
Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Central America, and is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names are flat-leaved vanilla, [citation needed] and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona ).
What is the difference between Vanilla planifolia and Tahitian vanilla beans?
Planifolia Vs. Tahitian vanilla beans are always the primary subject in the global market. Both of them emit the aroma and taste of vanilla with their particular characteristics. Vanilla planifolia is an ancestral plant of all vanilla orchids. This vanilla has strong vanillin.
What does V planifolia look like?
Like all members of the genus Vanilla, V. planifolia is a vine. It uses its fleshy roots to support itself as it grows. Flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in).
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What is Vanilla planifolia used for?
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) A major use of vanilla is in flavoring ice cream. Vanilla contains high levels of antioxidants. It has sedative property and hence alleviates anxiety. Vanilla is also used as an aromatherapy remedy being considered a popular scent for conferring aphrodisiac effects (Figure 6).
What is the difference between vanilla Tahitensis and Vanilla planifolia?
Vanilla Planifolia, or “Bourbon vanilla”, is mainly grown in the Indian Ocean. Its natural vanillin content and spiced, woody taste have made it the leading variety. Vanilla x Tahitensis is grown in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and in New Guinea. It has a particularly floral, aniseed-tinted flavor.
Is Vanilla planifolia rare?
This plant grows in the tropical forests of Mexico and Central and northern South America but is now rare in the wild due to habitat reduction and overexploitation.
Is Vanilla planifolia poisonous?
Vanilla. This vine-like plant blooms with large cream-colored flowers and when pollinated, produces seeds which are distilled into the popular flavoring. 100% non-toxic.
What is the rarest type of vanilla?
Tahitian vanilla is unique among these hand-grown varieties, as it is a hybrid of two species, vanilla, and tahitensis.
Which vanilla is better Mexican or Madagascar?
Madagascar Bourbon vanilla is the gold standard of vanillas. Mexican vanilla extract is kind of shady, although the beans are great. Tahitian vanilla is mostly about aroma, not actual flavor. The differences among the three types of vanilla will be readily apparent.
Is vanilla worth more than silver?
Vanilla can be found in many products we use every day. But there's relatively little of it on the world market and prices are astronomical. It's now more valuable than silver.
Is vanilla more valuable than silver?
Vanilla prices have climbed so high it's worth more by weight than silver. This price increase has to do with vanilla bean theft, complex pollination, and the rise of the "all natural" food movement.
How do you know if vanilla is pure?
To be labeled Pure Vanilla Extract, a gallon measure must contain 13.35% vanilla bean extractives (10-ounces of moisture-free solids), 35% alcohol, and the balance in distilled water. What is not listed in the Standard of Identity is sugar, corn syrup, caramel color or any other additives pure vanilla may contain.
What is the most rare orchid?
Blue. The rarest of the orchids and that most difficult to attain, therefore said to embody rarity, is the simply beautiful, blue orchid. As these flowers are difficult to find, you may often see blue orchids which contain dye to maintain their striking colour.
Can I grow my own vanilla plant?
Vanilla in Your Home Garden The best way to bring vanilla home is to buy a potted plant or cutting of V. planifolia. Large cuttings (24 to 36 inches) can root and flower in just 2 to 3 years. Smaller cuttings will take longer, likely 3 to 4 years.
What does Vanilla planifolia smell like?
In my recent FT article, Vanilla Orchids, I describe one of the most famous perfumed orchids, Vanilla planifolia. Perhaps it's not surprising, since this plant produces one of the world's most fragrant spices. The flowers have a delicious aroma reminiscent of creamy jasmine and green grape.
Overview
Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Belize. It is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona). Often, it is simply referred to as "the vanilla". It was first scientifically named in 1808. With the species' population i…
Habitat
It prefers hot, wet, tropical climates.
It is cultivated and harvested primarily in Veracruz, Mexico, Tahiti, Indonesia, and Madagascar.
Description
Like all members of the genus Vanilla, V. planifolia is a vine. It uses its fleshy roots to support itself as it grows.
Flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in). They last only a day, and must be pollinated manually, during the morning, if fruit is desired. The plants are self-fertile, and pollination simply requires a transfer of the pollen fro…
Chemistry
The major chemical components from the pods are vanillin, vanillic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.
Contact dermatitis
When propagating vanilla orchids from cuttings or harvesting ripe vanilla pods, care must be taken to avoid contact with the sap from the plant's stems. The sap of most species of Vanilla orchid which exudes from cut stems or where pods are harvested can cause moderate to severe dermatitis if it comes in contact with bare skin. Washing the affected area with warm soapy water will …
See also
• Vanilla tahitensis