Vanilla (Vanilla)
The cured seed pod of a climbing orchid - the only edible fruit of thousands of orchid species, and among the most labor-intensive spices on earth.
HOW TO IDENTIFY IT
Real pods are dark brown to black, supple and slightly oily, and you can tie one in a knot. The smell is deep, sweet and boozy. Hard, dry, pale pods or 'vanilla sugar' smell alone usually mean synthetic vanillin.
CULTURE & KITCHEN
A newer plantation crop for Zanzibar's spice farms, sold mostly to visitors in pod form. Local use is growing in desserts and the sweet versions of Zanzibar pizza drizzled with chocolate and banana.