Types of Orchids – Vanilla Beans, the Sweet Flavor of Orchids

The Vanilla Planifolia is one most important of all species of the whole orchid family. Unlike most of the orchids, Vanilla beans grow in vines and seedpods or bears beans which also produce the flavoring of vanillin. Shortly after all these seedpods are wholly picked up, they also become very dark in color and very soon become the full black pod we are generally used to seeing in the home kitchen. But did you know that the history of this orchid also has a darker side attached to it, too? According to the very first cultivators of this vanilla plant, the Totonac of Mexico, its birth also came about right from the death of two deep lovers. The story briefly tells of a goddess who actually fell in love with a mortal but was totally forbidden by her father to get married to him. In great protest, they fled away to the forest to live over their love but were later on caught and both beheaded. From their blood grew out this orchid which is now popularly known as the vanilla orchid. Although its deep roots can also be traced back in Mexico, this popular flavoring now finds its own home most very popularly right here in Madagascar. The Bourbon Vanilla Beans (Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla Beans) is currently the most popular and also most widely used of all the vanilla bean types. Mexico and Indonesia also has been largely growing the orchids just like all these but in much smaller quantities as compared to Madagascar. A lot of food, especially the very sweet ones can now even thank vanilla for their very great flavor. Among all these most of the loved deserts are breads, custards, milk and coffee. Who would also have known that fully aside right from their whole edible flowers, vanilla orchids would be a full staple in everyone's home kitchen? Vanilla is the only fruit-bearing the plant in the whole orchid world to have been most widely and the most commonly used in the kitchen all around the whole world. Although orchid parts such as bulbs, petals and stems have finally been utilized as medicinal useful herbs, vanilla extracts is the only orchid type to have such a good fame. A flavoring just like this is a very sweet reminder that even the most delicate things in the whole world can be such a wonderful feast for the palette. Exotic and even mysterious as its very beginnings are, vanilla is an orchid to be greatly proud of. Next time you hear someone calling the orchids mere scented flowers and normal plants, why not tell them something about vanilla beans? Surely this is a wonderful orchid and would also shed some sweet light on them. For more details about Vanilla beans, log on to http://www.olivenation.com/