Vanilla beans are, along with cardamom and saffron, the most expensive spice in the world. Its unique, pleasant aroma is familiar to everyone—it's so distinctive that it can't be confused with any other. Vanilla flavoring isn't just for...

To acquire its famous aromatic properties, vanilla must undergo a six-month process. Although the vanilla berries are harvested fully ripe, they are odorless. It is only during the six-month process—alternating fermentation and drying of the pods—that they acquire...