Vanilla beans Form : Sticks

Vanilla pods are the fruit of the vanilla planifolia and are the only orchid to produce an edible substance. Vanilla pods are long, thin and filled with beans that are virtually flavorless in their unripe state. The pods must be cured for several months until vanillin crystals are emitted. The fragrance from the vanillin permeates the inside of the pod that eventually turns dark brown. The beans are then scraped from the inside of the pod and are ready for use. The complicated processing of vanilla (because fresh vanilla pods do not have any taste) and the need of manual pollination makes vanilla one of the most expensive spices.