More valuable than silver, the vanilla bean has long been one of the world’s priciest seasonings. Artificial vanillas have abounded for centuries, made with everything from beaver glands to petroleum products. ⁠ ⁠ Where is the world's unlikely primary source of vanilla? Madagascar. However, the Vanilla planifolia orchid is native to Mexico, and this whole-milk flan uses vanilla grown in Tahiti.⁠ ⁠ The reason that Madagascar is on top of the vanilla game is grim: According to The Financial Times, it’s one of the few regions with the right climate that is also poor enough to make laborious hand-pollination affordable. ⁠ ⁠ While other countries, such as India, have dabbled in heavy vanilla production, huge swings in the international price make it a dangerous crop to grow widely. Many farmers choose to stick to other crops. ⁠ ⁠ This concentration of vanilla production makes the industry and prices even more precarious—events in Madagascar have led to some ice cream parlors losing money on each scoop of vanilla.⁠ ⁠ Tap the link in bio for the full story.⁠ 📸 @clelia_13_