Antalaha is an urban municipality in northern Madagascar . It belongs to the district of Antalaha , which is a part of Sava Region . The population of Antalaha was 67.888 in 2018.
81-464: Farming provides employment for 40% of the working population. The most important crop is vanilla , while other important products are cloves and rice . Industry and services provide employment for 30.00% and 29.98% of the population, respectively. Additionally fishing employs 0.02% of the population. The National road 5a connects the town with Sambava (81 km) and Ambilobe in the North. Antalaha has
162-470: A dark color shortly after being picked. For the Aztecs, much like earlier Mesoamerican peoples before them, it is probable that vanilla was used to tame the otherwise bitter taste of cacao , as sugarcane was not harvested in these regions at the time and there were no other sweeteners available. Hernán Cortés is credited with introducing both vanilla and chocolate to Europe in the 1520s. In Europe, vanilla
243-419: A few years. The harvested green fruit can be commercialized as such or cured to get a better market price. Several methods exist in the market for curing vanilla; nevertheless, all of them consist of four basic steps: killing, sweating, slow-drying, and conditioning of the beans. The vegetative tissue of the vanilla pod is killed to stop the vegetative growth of the pods and disrupt the cells and tissue of
324-561: A good-luck charm in amulets, as well as flavoring for food and beverages. The cultivation of vanilla was a low-profile affair, as few people from outside these regions knew of it. Although the Totonacs are the most famously associated with human use of vanilla, it is speculated that the Olmecs , who also lived in the regions of wild vanilla growth thousands of years earlier, were one of the first people to use wild vanilla in cuisine. Aztecs from
405-464: A grass stem is used to lift the rostellum or move the flap upward, so the overhanging anther can be pressed against the stigma and self-pollinate the vine. Generally, one flower per raceme opens per day, so the raceme may be in flower for over 20 days. A healthy vine should produce about 50 to 100 beans per year, but growers are careful to pollinate only five or six flowers from the 20 on each raceme. The first flowers that open in each raceme are usually
486-561: A maritime harbour. The local airport is situated at 12km west of Antalaha but it didn't receive any flights since 2015. In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The town has a permanent court and hospital. Ambinany river , Ankavanana and Ankavia . Antalaha experiences a humid trade-wind tropical rainforest climate (Koppen Af ) with prodigious rainfall all year-round. The heaviest rainfall, highest humidity, and hottest temperatures are typically observed from December to April,
567-469: A means of creating vanilla plants during the 1980s at Tamil Nadu University. This was the part of the first project to grow V. planifolia in India. At that time, a shortage of vanilla planting stock was occurring in India. The approach was inspired by the work going on to tissue culture other flowering plants. Several methods have been proposed for vanilla tissue culture, but all of them begin from axillary buds of
648-557: A method of artificially pollinating the plant. The method proved financially unworkable and was not deployed commercially. In 1841, Edmond Albius , a 12-year-old slave who lived on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, discovered that the plant could be hand-pollinated . Hand-pollination allowed global cultivation of the plant. Noted French botanist and plant collector Jean Michel Claude Richard falsely claimed to have discovered
729-629: A number of uses, cause reactions on the skin and more so in the rest of the body). All cosmetic products and ingredients must meet the same safety requirement, regardless of their source. Chemical composition of essential oils could be affected by herbicides if the original plants are cultivated versus wild-harvested. Some oils can be toxic to some domestic animals, with cats being particularly prone. Most oils can be toxic to humans as well. A report on three different cases documented gynecomastia in prepubertal boys who were exposed to topical lavender and tea tree oils . The Aromatherapy Trade Council of
810-413: A regulatory meaning. Analysis using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry has been used to identify bioactive compounds in essential oils. These techniques are able to measure the levels of components to a few parts per billion. This does not make it possible to determine whether each component is natural or whether a poor oil has been "improved" by the addition of synthetic aromachemicals , but
891-412: A solution of 1% NPK (17:17:17) can be sprayed on the plant once a month. Vanilla requires organic matter, so three or four applications of mulch a year are adequate for the plant. Dissemination of vanilla can be achieved either by stem cutting or by tissue culture. For stem cutting, a progeny garden needs to be established. All plants need to grow under 50% shade, as well as the rest of the crop. Mulching
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#1733085360702972-411: A strong vanilla aroma, containing vanilla grains and sometimes also containing eggs (especially egg yolks). The appellation originates from the French style of making vanilla ice cream with a custard base, using vanilla pods, cream, and egg yolks. Inclusion of vanilla varietals from any of the former French dependencies or overseas France may be a part of the flavoring. Alternatively, French vanilla
1053-407: A temperature of 45–65 °C (113–149 °F) and high humidity. Daily exposure to the sun may also be used, or dipping the fruits in hot water. The fruits are brown and have attained much of the characteristic vanilla flavor and aroma by the end of this process, but still retain a 60–70% moisture content by weight. Reduction of the beans to 25–30% moisture by weight, to prevent rotting and to lock
1134-572: A therapeutic use in the US are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ; products with a cosmetic use must meet safety requirements, regardless of their source. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates any aromatherapy advertising claims. There are no standards for determining the quality of essential oils in the United States; while the term "therapeutic grade" is in use, it does not have
1215-414: A third of an inch (8 mm) by six inches (15 cm), and brownish red to black when ripe. Inside of these pods is an oily liquid full of tiny seeds. One flower produces one fruit. V. planifolia flowers are hermaphroditic : they carry both male ( anther ) and female ( stigma ) organs. However, self-pollination is blocked by a membrane which separates those organs. Despite various claims otherwise,
1296-401: Is a major contributor to the characteristic flavor and aroma of real vanilla and is the main flavor component of cured vanilla beans. Vanillin was first isolated from vanilla pods by Gobley in 1858. By 1874, it had been obtained from glycosides of pine tree sap, temporarily causing a depression in the natural vanilla industry. Vanillin can be easily synthesized from various raw materials, but
1377-432: Is an accepted version of this page Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla , primarily obtained from pods of the flat-leaved vanilla ( V. planifolia ). Vanilla is not autogamous , so pollination is required to make the plants produce the fruit from which the vanilla spice is obtained. In 1837, Belgian botanist Charles François Antoine Morren discovered this fact and pioneered
1458-708: Is attested in Canaan / Israel during the Middle Bronze Age and later. Traces of vanillin were found in wine jars in Jerusalem , which were used by the Judahite elite before the city was destroyed in 586 BCE. The word vanilla is derived from the Spanish word vainilla meaning "little pod", the diminutive of vaina derived from the Latin vagina (sheath) describing the shape of
1539-407: Is difficult as they reach full size soon after pollination. Glucovanillin accumulates from 20 weeks, maximum about 40 weeks after pollination. Mature green beans have 20% dry matter but less than 2% glucovanillin." The accumulation of dry matter and glucovanillin are highly correlated. To ensure the finest flavor from every fruit, each individual pod must be picked by hand just as it begins to split on
1620-411: Is favoured by unsuitable growing conditions such as overwatering, insufficient drainage, heavy mulch, overpollination, and too much shade. Fungal diseases can be controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture (1%), carbendazim (0.2%) and copper oxychloride (0.2%). Biological control of the spread of such diseases can be managed by applying to the soil Trichoderma (0.5 kg (1.1 lb) per plant in
1701-409: Is practiced, insecticides are avoided, and mechanical measures are adopted for pest management. Most of these practices are implemented under greenhouse cultivation, since such field conditions are very difficult to achieve. Most artificial vanilla products contain vanillin , which can be produced synthetically from lignin , a natural polymer found in wood. Most synthetic vanillin is a byproduct from
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#17330853607021782-473: Is taken to refer to a vanilla-custard flavor. Vanilla essence occurs in two forms. Real seedpod extract is a complex mixture of several hundred different compounds, including vanillin, acetaldehyde , acetic acid , furfural , hexanoic acid , 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde , eugenol , methyl cinnamate , and isobutyric acid . Synthetic essence consists of a solution of synthetic vanillin in ethanol . The chemical compound vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde)
1863-400: Is that when planting the cuttings from the base, four leaves should be pruned and the pruned basal point must be pressed into the soil in a way such that the nodes are in close contact with the soil, and are placed at a depth of 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in). The top portion of the cutting is tied to the tree using natural fibers such as banana or hemp. Tissue culture was first used as
1944-524: Is uncertain if aromatherapy provides any benefit to people experiencing nausea after surgery. Essential oils comprise hundreds to thousands of aromatic constituents, like terpinoids and phenylpropanoids , and to sufficiently research the pharmacological effects of essential oil constituents, each isolated constituent in the selected essential oil would have to be studied. The use of essential oils for therapeutic, spiritual, hygienic and ritualistic purposes goes back to ancient civilizations including
2025-456: Is very important for proper growth of the vine, and a considerable portion of mulch should be placed in the base of the vine. Fertilization varies with soil conditions, but general recommendations are: 40 to 60 g of N, 20 to 30 g of P 2 O 5 and 60 to 100 g of K 2 O should be applied to each plant per year besides organic manures, such as vermicompost , oil cakes, poultry manure, and wood ash. Foliar applications are also good for vanilla, and
2106-574: The Gulf of Mexico from Tampico around to the northeast tip of South America, and from Colima to Ecuador on the Pacific side, as well as throughout the Caribbean. The Totonac people, who live along the eastern coast of Mexico in the present-day state of Veracruz , were among the first people to domesticate vanilla, cultivated on farms since at least 1185. The Totonac used vanilla as a fragrance in temples and as
2187-457: The Indians , Chinese , Egyptians , Greeks , and Romans who used them in cosmetics, perfumes and drugs. Oils were used for aesthetic pleasure and in the beauty industry. They were a luxury item and a means of payment. It was believed that essential oils increased the shelf life of wine and improved the taste of food. Oils and the belief that they had healing properties, along with other beliefs of
2268-475: The National Cancer Institute , no studies of aromatherapy in cancer treatment have been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Results are mixed for other studies. Some showed improved sleep, anxiety, mood, nausea, and pain, while others showed no change in symptoms. Aromatherapy carries a number of risks of adverse effects ; combined with the lack of evidence of its therapeutic benefit,
2349-581: The pods . The word "vanilla" entered the English language in 1754, when the botanist Philip Miller wrote about the genus in his Gardener’s Dictionary . The main species of vanilla cultivated is V. planifolia . Although it is native to Mesoamerica and South America, it is now widely grown throughout the tropics. Indonesia and Madagascar are the world's largest producers. Additional sources include V. pompona and V. tahitiensis (grown in Niue and Tahiti ), although
2430-574: The pulp used in papermaking , in which the lignin is broken down using sulfites or sulfates . However, vanillin is only one of 171 identified aromatic components of real vanilla fruits. The orchid species Leptotes bicolor is used as a natural vanilla replacement in Paraguay and southern Brazil. In 1996 the US Food and Drug Administration cautioned that some vanilla products sold in Mexico were made from
2511-504: The rhizosphere ) and foliar application of pseudomonas (0.2%). Mosaic virus , leaf curl , and cymbidium mosaic potexvirus are the common viral diseases. These diseases are transmitted through the sap, so affected plants must be destroyed. The insect pests of vanilla include beetles and weevils that attack the flower, caterpillars, snakes, and slugs that damage the tender parts of shoot, flower buds, and immature fruit, and grasshoppers that affect cutting shoot tips. If organic agriculture
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2592-409: The French call givre (hoarfrost). It then releases the distinctive vanilla smell. The fruit contains tiny, black seeds. In dishes prepared with whole natural vanilla, these seeds are recognizable as black specks. Both the pod and the seeds are used in cooking. Like other orchids' seeds, vanilla seeds will not germinate without the presence of certain mycorrhizal fungi . Instead, growers reproduce
2673-670: The South Pacific; and V. pompona , found in the West Indies, Central America, and South America. The majority of the world's vanilla is the V. planifolia species, more commonly known as Bourbon vanilla (after the former name of Réunion, Île Bourbon) or Madagascar vanilla , which is produced in Madagascar and neighboring islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean, and in Indonesia. Madagascar's and Indonesia's cultivations produce two-thirds of
2754-1027: The UK issued a rebuttal. Another article published by a different research group also documented three cases of gynecomastia in prepubertal boys who were exposed to topical lavender oil. Persistent exposure to lavender products may be associated with premature breast development in girls and "that chemicals in lavender oil and tea tree oil are potential endocrine disruptors with varying effects on receptors for two hormones – estrogen and androgen ". Essential oils can be toxic when ingested or absorbed internally. Doses as low as 2 ml have been reported to cause clinically significant symptoms and severe poisoning can occur after ingestion of as little as 4 ml. A few reported cases of toxic reactions like liver damage and seizures have occurred after ingestion of sage, hyssop, thuja and cedar oils. Accidental ingestion may happen when oils are not kept out of reach of children. As with any bioactive substance, an essential oil that may be safe for
2835-557: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 2019 data, Madagascar, followed by Indonesia, were the largest producers of vanilla in 2018. After a tropical cyclone ravaged key croplands, the market price of vanilla rose sharply in the late 1970s and remained high through the early 1980s despite the introduction of Indonesian vanilla. In the mid-1980s, the cartel that had controlled vanilla prices and distribution since its creation in 1930 disbanded. Prices dropped 70% over
2916-429: The United States. Although there is insufficient medical evidence that aromatherapy can prevent, treat or cure any disease, aromatherapy is used by some people with diseases, such as cancer, to provide general well-being and relief from pain, nausea or stress. People may use blends of essential oils as a topical application , massage, inhalation, or water immersion. Due to the low quality of research evidence, it
2997-426: The appearance is not as important, such as in the production of vanilla flavoring extract and in the fragrance industry. Higher-grade fruits command higher prices in the market. However, because grade is so dependent on visual appearance and moisture content, fruits with the highest grade do not necessarily contain the highest concentration of characteristic flavor molecules such as vanillin, and are not necessarily
3078-414: The aroma in the pods, is always achieved by some exposure of the beans to air, and usually (and traditionally) intermittent shade and sunlight. Fruits may be laid out in the sun during the mornings and returned to their boxes in the afternoons, or spread on a wooden rack in a room for three to four weeks, sometimes with periods of sun exposure. Drying is the most problematic of the curing stages; unevenness in
3159-477: The blossoms grow along stems branching from the main vine. The buds, growing along the 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) stems, bloom and mature in sequence, each at a different interval. Flowering normally occurs every spring, and without pollination, the blossom wilts and falls, and no vanilla bean can grow. In the wild in the New World , the only organisms ever observed to carry Vanilla pollen are orchid bees in
3240-421: The central highlands of Mexico invaded the Totonacs in 1427, developed a taste for the vanilla pods, and began using vanilla to flavor their foods and drinks, often mixing it with cocoa in a drink called " xocolatl " that later inspired modern hot chocolate . The fruit was named tlilxochitl , wrongly interpreted as "black flower" instead of the more probable "black pod" because the matured fruit shrivels and turns
3321-454: The cheaper tonka bean which as well as vanillin also contains the toxin coumarin . They advised consumers to always check the ingredients label and avoid suspiciously cheap products. In the United States, castoreum , the exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers , has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, often referenced simply as a " natural flavoring " in
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3402-431: The climate, geography, and local geology. Left alone, it will grow as high as possible on the support, with few flowers. Every year, growers fold the higher parts of the plant downward so the plant stays at heights accessible by a standing human. This also greatly stimulates flowering. The distinctively flavored compounds are found in the fruit, which results from the pollination of the flower. These seed pods are roughly
3483-453: The degeneration of glucovanillin to vanillin, so the reasoning goes that disrupting the tissues and cells of the fruit allow enzymes and enzyme substrates to interact. Hot-water killing may consist of dipping the pods in hot water (63–65 °C (145–149 °F)) for three minutes, or at 80 °C (176 °F) for 10 seconds. In scratch killing, fruits are scratched along their length. Frozen or quick-frozen fruits must be thawed again for
3564-512: The distal end of the fruits is not a good indication of the maturity of pods. Each fruit ripens at its own time, requiring a daily harvest. "Current methods for determining the maturity of vanilla ( Vanilla planifolia Andrews) beans are unreliable. Yellowing at the blossom end, the current index, occurs before beans accumulate maximum glucovanillin concentrations. Beans left on the vine until they turn brown have higher glucovanillin concentrations but may split and have low quality. Judging bean maturity
3645-479: The drying process can lead to the loss of vanillin content of some fruits by the time the others are cured. Conditioning is performed by storing the pods for five to six months in closed boxes, where the fragrance develops. The processed fruits are sorted, graded, bundled, and wrapped in paraffin paper and preserved for the development of desired bean qualities, especially flavor and aroma. The cured vanilla fruits contain an average of 2.5% vanillin. Once fully cured,
3726-460: The end. Overmatured fruits are likely to split, causing a reduction in market value. Its commercial value is fixed based on the length and appearance of the pod. If the fruit is more than 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, it is categorized as first-quality. The largest fruits greater than 16 cm (6.3 in) and up to as much as 21 cm (8.3 in) are usually reserved for the gourmet vanilla market, for sale to top chefs and restaurants. If
3807-406: The environment. Most successful vanilla growing and processing is done in the region within 10 to 20° of the equator. Soils for vanilla cultivation should be loose, with high organic matter content and loamy texture. They must be well drained, and a slight slope helps in this condition. Soil pH has not been well documented, but some researchers have indicated an optimum soil pH around 5.3. Mulch
3888-598: The era of modern medicine, the name "aromatherapy" first appeared in print in 1937 in a French book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a chemist. An English version was published in 1993. Jean Valnet, a French surgeon, pioneered the supposed medicinal uses of essential oils, which he used as antiseptics in the treatment of wounded soldiers during World War II . Aromatherapy products, and essential oils in particular, may be regulated differently depending on their intended use. Products that are marketed with
3969-560: The field or greenhouse. In the tropics, the ideal time for planting vanilla is from September to November, when the weather is neither too rainy nor too dry, but this recommendation varies with growing conditions. Cuttings take one to eight weeks to establish roots, and show initial signs of growth from one of the leaf axils. A thick mulch of leaves should be provided immediately after planting as an additional source of organic matter. Three years are required for cuttings to grow enough to produce flowers and subsequent pods. As with most orchids,
4050-542: The fruit. Whole, dark, plump and oily pods that are visually attractive, with no blemishes, and that have a higher moisture content are graded most highly. Such pods are particularly prized by chefs for their appearance and can be featured in gourmet dishes. Beans that show localized signs of disease or other physical defects are cut to remove the blemishes; the shorter fragments left are called "cuts" and are assigned lower grades, as are fruits with lower moisture contents. Lower-grade fruits tend to be favored for uses in which
4131-593: The fruits are between 10 and 15 cm long, pods are in the second-quality category, and fruits less than 10 cm (3.9 in) in length are in the third-quality category. Each fruit contains thousands of tiny black vanilla seeds. Vanilla fruit yield depends on the care and management given to the hanging and fruiting vines. Any practice directed to stimulate aerial root production has a direct effect on vine productivity. A five-year-old vine can produce between 1.5 and 3 kg (3.3 and 6.6 lb) of pods, and this production can increase up to 6 kg (13 lb) after
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#17330853607024212-424: The fruits, which initiates enzymatic reactions responsible for the aroma. The method of killing varies, but may be accomplished by heating in hot water, freezing, or scratching, or killing by heating in an oven or exposing the beans to direct sunlight. The different methods give different profiles of enzymatic activity. Testing has shown mechanical disruption of fruit tissues can cause curing processes, including
4293-407: The general public could still pose hazards for pregnant and lactating women. Oils both ingested and applied to the skin can potentially have negative interactions with conventional medicine. For example, the topical use of methyl salicylate –heavy oils like wintergreen may cause bleeding in users taking the anticoagulant warfarin . In late 2021, an aromatherapy spray was recalled after it
4374-503: The genus Eulaema , though direct evidence documenting seed set is lacking. Claims that pollination is achieved by stingless bees of the genus Melipona or hummingbirds have never been substantiated, though they do visit the flowers. Even within the range of orchid bees, wild vanilla orchids have only a 1% chance of successful pollination. As a result, all vanilla grown today is pollinated by hand. Each flower must be hand-pollinated within 12 hours of opening. A small splinter of wood or
4455-616: The islands of Réunion and Mauritius in hopes of producing vanilla there. After 1841, when Edmond Albius discovered how to pollinate the flowers quickly by hand, the pods began to thrive. Soon, the tropical orchids were sent from Réunion to the Comoros Islands , Seychelles , and Madagascar , along with instructions for pollinating them. By 1898, Madagascar, Réunion, and the Comoros Islands produced 200 metric tons of vanilla beans, about 80% of world production in that year. According to
4536-487: The latter is often signalled by the minor impurities present. There is no clinical evidence that aromatherapy can prevent or cure any disease, although it may be useful for managing symptoms. Evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in treating medical conditions is poor, with a particular lack of studies employing rigorous methodology. In 2015, the Australian Government's Department of Health published
4617-516: The majority of food-grade (> 99% pure) vanillin is made from guaiacol . In general, quality vanilla only comes from good vines and through careful production methods. Commercial vanilla production can be performed under open field and "greenhouse" operations. The two production systems share these similarities: Vanilla grows best in a hot, humid climate from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 m. The ideal climate has moderate rainfall, 1,500–3,000 mm, evenly distributed through 10 months of
4698-562: The market price down to the $ 40/kg range in the middle of 2005. By 2010, prices were down to $ 20/kg. Cyclone Enawo caused a similar spike to $ 500/kg in 2017. An estimated 95% of "vanilla" products are artificially flavored with vanillin derived from lignin instead of vanilla fruits. Although vanilla was domesticated in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread to the Old World , the use of an unidentified, Old World-endemic Vanilla species
4779-500: The most flavorful. † moisture content varies among sources cited Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is a practice based on the use of aromatic materials , including essential oils and other aroma compounds , with claims for improving psychological well-being . It is used as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative medicine , and typically is used via inhalation and not by ingestion. Fragrances used in aromatherapy are not approved as prescription drugs in
4860-449: The next few years, to nearly US$ 20 per kilogram; prices rose sharply again after tropical cyclone Hudah struck Madagascar in April 2000. The cyclone, political instability, and poor weather in the third year drove vanilla prices to US$ 500/kg in 2004, bringing new countries into the vanilla industry. A good crop, coupled with decreased demand caused by the production of imitation vanilla, pushed
4941-596: The only ones that are pollinated, so the resulting beans are similar in age and mature together. This agronomic practice facilitates harvest and increases bean quality, as over-pollination results in diseases and inferior bean quality. The fruits require five to six weeks to develop, but around six months to mature. A vine remains productive between 12 and 14 years. Vanilla is susceptible to many fungal and viral diseases. Fusarium , Sclerotium , Phytophthora , and Colletrotrichum species cause rots of root, stem, leaf, bean, and shoot apex . Development of most diseases
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#17330853607025022-636: The only pollinators definitively documented to date are orchid bees in the genus Eulaema and the Western honey bee . All commercial vanilla production takes place via hand pollination by humans. The first vanilla orchid to flower in Europe was in the London collection of the Honourable Charles Greville in 1806. Cuttings from that plant went to Netherlands and Paris, from which the French first transplanted
5103-415: The plant by cutting : they remove sections of the vine with six or more leaf nodes, a root opposite each leaf. The two lower leaves are removed, and this area is buried in loose soil at the base of support. The remaining upper roots cling to the support, and often grow down into the soil. Growth is rapid under good conditions. The term French vanilla is often used to designate particular preparations with
5184-577: The practice is of questionable worth. Many studies have explored the concerns that essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate the skin when used in undiluted form, often referred to as neat application. Therefore, they are normally diluted with a carrier oil for topical application such as jojoba oil , olive oil , sweet almond oil or coconut oil . Phototoxic reactions may occur with many cold-pressed citrus peel oils such as lemon or lime . Many essential oils have chemical components that are sensitisers (meaning that they will, after
5265-462: The product's list of ingredients. It is used in both food and beverages, especially as vanilla and raspberry flavoring, with a total annual U.S. production of less than 300 pounds. It is also used to flavor some cigarettes and in perfume-making, and is used by fur trappers as a scent lure. Harvesting vanilla fruits is as labor-intensive as pollinating the blossoms. Immature, dark green pods are not harvested. Pale yellow discoloration that commences at
5346-544: The results of a review of alternative therapies that sought to determine if any were suitable for being covered by health insurance ; aromatherapy was one of 17 therapies evaluated for which no clear evidence of effectiveness was found. A number of systematic reviews have studied the clinical effectiveness of aromatherapy in respect to pain management in labor, the treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting , managing challenging behaviors in people suffering from dementia , and symptom relief in cancer . According to
5427-411: The stigma. The flower, self-pollinated, will then produce a fruit. The vanilla flower lasts about one day, sometimes less, so growers have to inspect their plantations every day for open flowers, a labor-intensive task. The fruit , a seed capsule , if left on the plant, ripens and opens at the end; as it dries, the phenolic compounds crystallize , giving the fruits a diamond-dusted appearance, which
5508-454: The subsequent sweating stage . Tied in bundles and rolled in blankets, fruits may be placed in an oven at 60 °C (140 °F) for 36 to 48 hours. Exposing the fruits to sunlight until they turn brown, a method originating in Mexico, was practiced by the Aztecs. Sweating is a hydrolytic and oxidative process. Traditionally, it consists of keeping fruits, for 7 to 10 days, densely stacked and insulated in wool or other cloth. This retains
5589-443: The technique three or four years earlier. By the end of the 20th century, Albius was considered the true discoverer. Three major species of vanilla currently are grown globally, all derived from a species originally found in Mesoamerica , including parts of modern-day Mexico . They are V. planifolia (syn. V. fragrans ), grown on Madagascar , Réunion, and other tropical areas along the Indian Ocean; V. × tahitensis , grown in
5670-471: The time, are described by Dioscorides in his De Materia Medica , written in the 1st century A.D. Distilled cedarwood oil was used by the ancient Egyptians, and the process of distilling essential oils like rose essence was refined by the 11th century Persian scholar Ibn Sina . Hildegard of Bingen used distilled lavender oil for medicinal treatments in the 12th century, and by the 15th century, oils were commonly distilled from various plant sources. In
5751-406: The trenches with coconut husk and micro irrigation provide an ideal microclimate for vegetative growth. Cuttings between 60 and 120 cm (24 and 47 in) should be selected for planting in the field or greenhouse. Cuttings below 60 to 120 cm (24 to 47 in) need to be rooted and raised in a separate nursery before planting. Planting material should always come from unflowered portions of
5832-450: The vanilla fruits are sorted by quality and graded. Several vanilla fruit grading systems are in use. Each country which produces vanilla has its own grading system, and individual vendors, in turn, sometimes use their own criteria for describing the quality of the fruits they offer for sale. In general, vanilla fruit grade is based on the length, appearance (color, sheen, presence of any splits, presence of blemishes), and moisture content of
5913-404: The vanilla vine. In vitro multiplication has also been achieved through culture of callus masses, protocorms, root tips and stem nodes. Description of any of these processes can be obtained from the references listed before, but all of them are successful in generation of new vanilla plants that first need to be grown up to a height of at least 30 cm (12 in) before they can be planted in
5994-419: The vanillin content of these species is much less than V. planifolia . Vanilla grows as a vine, climbing up an existing tree (also called a tutor), pole, or other support. It can be grown in a wood (on trees), in a plantation (on trees or poles), or in a "shader", in increasing orders of productivity. Its growth environment is referred to as its terroir , and includes not only the adjacent plants, but also
6075-495: The vine. Wilting of the cuttings before planting provides better conditions for root initiation and establishment. Before planting the cuttings, trees to support the vine must be planted at least three months before sowing the cuttings. Pits of 30 × 30 × 30 cm are dug 30 cm (12 in) away from the tree and filled with farm yard manure (vermicompost), sand and top soil mixed well. An average of 2000 cuttings can be planted per hectare (2.5 acres). One important consideration
6156-403: The vines to their overseas colonies. The vines grew, but would not fruit outside Mexico. The only known way to produce fruits is artificial pollination . Today, even in Mexico, hand pollination is used extensively. In 1837, botanist Charles François Antoine Morren began experimenting with hand pollination of Vanilla orchids in cultivation in Europe. The method proved financially unworkable and
6237-571: The wettest month being January, receiving a copious average of 358.1 mm (14.10 in) of total precipitation. The driest month is September, receiving an average of 90.9 mm (3.58 in) of precipitation. The months from May to November are slightly drier, cooler, and less humid. Despite this, hot temperatures, high humidity, and high rainfall dominate year-round in Antalaha. 14°53′S 50°15′E / 14.883°S 50.250°E / -14.883; 50.250 Vanilla This
6318-416: The world's supply of vanilla. Measured by weight, vanilla is the second-most expensive spice after saffron , because growing the vanilla seed pods is labor-intensive. Nevertheless, vanilla is widely used in both commercial and domestic baking, perfume production, and aromatherapy , as only small amounts are needed to impart its signature flavor and aroma. Vanilla planifolia traditionally grew wild around
6399-406: The year. Optimum temperatures for cultivation are 15–30 °C (59–86 °F) during the day and 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) during the night. Ideal humidity is around 80%, and under normal greenhouse conditions, it can be achieved by an evaporative cooler. However, since greenhouse vanilla is grown near the equator and under polymer (HDPE) netting (shading of 50%), this humidity can be achieved by
6480-400: Was not deployed commercially. A few years later in 1841, a simple and efficient artificial hand-pollination method was developed by a 12-year-old slave named Edmond Albius on Réunion, a method still used today. Using a beveled sliver of bamboo , an agricultural worker lifts the membrane separating the anther and the stigma , then, using the thumb, transfers the pollinia from the anther to
6561-409: Was seen mostly as an additive to chocolate until the early 17th century when Hugh Morgan , a creative apothecary in the employ of Queen Elizabeth I, created chocolate-free, vanilla-flavored "sweetmeats". By the 18th century, the French were using vanilla to flavor ice cream . Until the mid-19th century, Mexico was the chief producer of vanilla. In 1819, French entrepreneurs shipped vanilla fruits to
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