BBC News: Why Only 1% of the World’s Vanilla Is Real

The island of Madagascar is the world’s largest producer of vanilla beans. Farmers protect their crops with patrols and mark individual pods while on the vine. The vanilla orchid, a native plant of Mexico, can grow 300 feet tall, but there are challenges: The orchid requires high humidity, shade and moderate temperatures and new plants produce pods after three years. Each flower must be fertilized by the tiny Melipona bee in Mexico, or by hand as is done in Madagascar – 600 flowers are needed for one kilogram of cured product, costing more than $500 in global markets. The pods mature over nine months before curing, and any shortcuts spoil taste. Meanwhile chemists have developed substitutes. “Less than 1% of the world's vanilla flavour comes from real beans,” reports Nancy Kacungira for BBC News. “Today, the vast majority of synthetic vanillin comes from petrochemicals. It can be 20 times cheaper than the real thing.” Regulations in the West to ensure authentic flavor have led to price increases. The high prices lure farmers into clearcutting forests, putting the region’s ecosystem at risk. Some farmers regret the mad rush caused by prices, and analysts suggest the countries that can ensure quality will become global market leaders. – YaleGlobal