Madagascar vanilla orchid

The vanilla bean is the fruit of the orchid Vanilla planifolia, a native of Mexico, but now grown in many tropical countries such as Madagascar, Tahiti, and Java. The flowers of the vanilla orchid are pol-... 

Vanilla is widely used in food, beverages and cosmetics. It is produced from the beans of Vanilla planifolia Andrews, a member of the orchid family (Orchi-daceae). The plant originates from Mexico where it was already used when the Spaniards arrived. Now it is cultured in various tropical countries, such as Madagascar, Indonesia, Uganda, Comoro, Tahiti, Papua Guinea, India and Mexico. Each of these growth sites yields vanilla with different flavour characteristics. 

VANILLIN. Vanillin, [CAS 121-35-5]. CgHgCL, a natural product, can be found as a glucoside (ghicovanillin) in vanilla beans, at concentrations of about 2%. It can be extracted with water, alcohol, or other organic solvents. Approximately 250 by-products have been identified m natural vanilla, out of which 26 are present at levels in excess of 1 ppm. The balance of all these products contributes to the subtle taste of vanilla beans, The vanilla bean contains about 2% vanillin, but the 10% extract prepared from beans has several times lire strength of a solution of 2% vanillin. The best known natural source of vanillin is the vanilla plant, Vanilla planifolia A., which belongs to the orchid family. It is cultivated mainly in Mexico, Madagascar, Reunion, Java, and Tahiti. 

Vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is the most important flavor ingredient available on the market. Natural vanillin is extracted from the beans, or pods, of the orchid Vanilla planifolia, V. tahitiensis, and V fragrans, mainly cultivated in Madagascar, Mexico, Tahiti, and Indonesia. Natural vanilla flavor supplies cover 1% of the demand the remainder is synthesized cheaply by chemical routes. Vanillin is employed not only in the F F industry, but it is also a key intermediate in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals (e.g., drugs, herbicides, antimicrobial agents, antifoaming agents) [31]. 

G. Vanille Absolut F. absolue de vanille V is produced by hydrocarbon solvent extraction from the cured pods of Vanilla planifolia, Orchida-ceae, native of Central America. In its natural habitat, the plant is pollinated by a local insect with a particularly long proboscis. After the orchid was brought to Europe by Fernando Cortez and subsequently to other tropical countries, it was discovered that the plant needed to be hand-pollinated to bear fruits (early 19 century). Vanilla is now cultivated in Indonesia, Madagascar, Reunion (i.e.. Bourbon) and the Caribbean Islands. 

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