Vanilla is a type of climbing orchid. There are 140 different species of Vanilla. The edible part of the plant used for flavouring is the seed pod. One species- Vanilla planifolia – is the main species commercially cultivated. 

In its native range in Mexico, the Vanilla planifolia flowers are pollinated by Melipona bees. When cultivated elsewhere – mainly in Madagascar- the vanilla has to be hand pollinated, adding to production costs and making vanilla the worlds second most expensive spice.

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