Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)

Family: Orchidaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Native to Mexico and Central America, Vanilla planifolia or also known as Vanilla is a climbing vine about 10-15 m long. It has aerial roots which support the plant by clinging into trees. The flowers are greenish-yellow, large, waxy and last only a day. The fruits are long pods containing small black seeds. The leaves are long, pointed, and fleshy. Medicinally, vanilla is used in the treatment of fevers, spasms, and caries.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring in a wide range of foods such as ice creams, confectionery, baked goods, puddings etc. — Seedpod - cooked.; Used as a flavouring in a wide range of foods such as ice creams, confectionery, baked goods, puddings etc.; The seedpods contain about 3.5% vanillin.; The pod can be placed in sugar and left for the flavour to diffuse into the sugar.

Habitat & North American Range

An epiphytic plant, it grows wild in trees, producing aerial roots that penetrate fissures and cracks in the bark. Usually found climbing on trees in warm, wet tropical low land forests at elevations from sea-level to 600 metres. (Zone 10)