The spice vanilla is an orchid plant that climbs up trees and poles. This has green to yellowish flowers and seed pods. Originally, the vanilla comes from Mexico. The Aztecs already appreciated the spice, the Spaniards made it known in Europe. Meanwhile, Madagascar is the largest cultivation area, as the weather conditions are ideal. There, however, the plant is artificially pollinated, as it can only be pollinated by Central American bee and hummingbird species.
