phenolic compounds are the part of the vanilla plant that gives off the smell of vanilla.
phenolic compounds are the part of the vanilla plant that gives off the smell of vanilla.
what part of the vanilla plant does the smell of vanilla come from?
phenolic compounds
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 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.
vanilla
the mountain areas of the region are home to the vanilla plant, which is a kind of orchid which produces the bean from which the flavoring comes. the bean was highly valued long before the arrival of the spanish, used for religious rituals, perfumes and healing potions as well as a flavoring. when the aztecs conquered totonacapan, part of the tribute was in vanilla beans, mostly used to flavor chocolate drinks in tenochtitlán. in the recent past, vanilla was a major trade in the region, with a number of vanilla “barons” in the first half of the 20th century making fortunes as middlemen and exporters. however, it began to be grown more cheaply elsewhere and the creation of synthetic vanilla collapsed the market for authentic mexican vanilla. despite the quality due to ideal growing conditions, mexico produces only fifteen percent of the world's vanilla. however, a number of entrepreneurs are working to bring the crop back experimenting with production rates and promoting the quality of totonacapan-grown vanilla. the best vanilla still comes from here.
totonacapan