Vanilla, a Mexican treasure!

Now a super important part of many of our desserts and dishes, vanilla originated in the Totonaca region of Mexico, where Veracruz and Papantla are now.

Before becoming a worldwide gourmet ingredient, the Mayas and Aztecs enjoyed adding vanilla to a cocoa drink reserved for nobles and warriors.

Legend has it that vanilla was born from the impossible love between the princess Tzacopontziza and the young prince Xcatan-oxga. The princess's father, King Teniztli, confined her to a temple. But one day, she escaped with the young man. Unfortunately, they ran into temple priests and were condemned to death for their love. Their bodies were left in a ravine, and an orchid began to grow there, giving off an exquisite aroma after a few days. The priests declared it a sacred plant and called it xanath, which eventually came to be known as vanilla.

We owe its current name to the Spanish, who decided to call it "vanilla pod," due to its similarity to sword pods. It is a member of the orchid family and is the only one that, unlike other similar flowers, bears fruit.

Mexican vanilla is quite popular and is registered as one of Mexico's 18 Designations of Origin. It's used for flavoring dishes almost everywhere in the world and is a favorite in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, where it's used in soft drinks, ice cream, cakes, chocolates, and many other foods.

Food connoisseurs (aka foodies) know that Vainilla Molina goes well with everything: pastries, cold and hot drinks, ice cream, and custard. It goes especially well in creams, puddings, cakes, cookies, and chocolate and is an extra special ingredient in curry. All it takes is a splash to liven up any of these dishes.

To go a little outside the box, try baking peaches or pears in red wine with a splash of Vainilla Molina, or add it to beverages such as coffee or tea to enhance their flavors. It also goes very well with chili, ginger, garlic, cardamom, coriander, fennel, mint, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon.

Whether adding it to savory dishes, beverages, or desserts, Vainilla Molina is truly a treasure! 

Tell us what you enjoy adding Vainilla Molina to!