Natural cosmetics shop violey - Naturata Organic Bourbon Vanilla Pods 2 St

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Naturata

Organic Bourbon Vanilla Pods

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Manufacturer's suggested retail price:

3,49 Euro

2 St

3,29

Euro

Available for immediate delivery

4 items in stock

Higher quantities
generally ready for shipment in 1 to 3 working days

incl. 7% VAT.
plus shipping costs

Naturata Organic Bourbon Vanilla Pods originates from growing areas around the Indian Ocean, mainly from Madagascar. The flowers and buds of the vanilla are pollinated by hand and harvested when still pre-mature. Their aroma is a result of further processing. Immediately after being harvested, the pods are heated, followed by a several month long drying and fermenting process. During this process, the vanilla pods change their colour to dark brown and develop their distinct aroma. Original vanilla shows a pleasantly aromatic and very smooth taste. S a sweet condiment it refines cakes, pastries, desserts, chocolate drinks, sweet sauces and whipped cream. Rasp carefully from pod before usage.

When Hernán Cortéz set sails to make Mexico part of the Spanish Empire, his main goal was one thing: gold. He was convinced that there was truth in the rumours about temples with golden roofs and streets made from gold in the land of the Aztecs. The inexhaustible richness, that he should find, was not precious noble metal, but a renewable, unsuspicious pod called Cacixanatl, or, how it would be called later in Europe: vanilla.

The emperor of the Aztec kingdom Montezuma II had other problems at that time. He thought deeply about a prophecy. His warriors had conquered the vast region of Central America from coast to coast, so that he ruled from Tenochtitlan over 10 million people. The tribes that had been beaten had to pay some tribute. Regular punitive expeditions oppressed growing resistance dreadfully. Part of Aztec’s daily routine was conversation with the gods. There were three main gods and numerous auxiliary gods. The Aztecs believed that their duty was to make peace between the gods, who were believed to be continuously at war against each others. Bad harvests, illnesses and failure were related to angry gods. To make these gods feel positive again, Aztecs gave sacrifices regularly. It was also common to sacrifice people.

It was in the year 1519. According to the calendar of the Aztec the year of the cane. Quetzalcoatl, the pale divine king, was supposed to return from the seas in the year of the cane to dreadfully take revenge for his displacement. When Montezuma II got the news of white men arriving in swimming houses on the shores of Central America, he was sure that this one prediction had come true. The blinking suits of armours the intruders wore were regarded as invulnerable skin, their horses and canons as fearsome demons out of netherworld. Hoping to keep Cortez from moving inlands, Montezuma sent slaves in file to bring gifts of pure gold. In exchange for a fallback Cortez’, he offered more gold. Hernán Cortez took the gifts thankfully, but never really considered to back off. Actually, the opposite was true. Cortez allied with the suppressed peoples, conquered Tenochtitlan and hold Montezuma hostage. In Montezuma’s palace, Cortez was offered a drink which was enjoyed by the upper class Aztecs on a daily base: Tlilxochitl. Montezume himself drank numerous cups of this drink a day. Tlilxochitl was a viscous cacao drink, whose bitter cacao taste was sweetened by vanilla. To ensure regular supplies, all tributary tribes had to give part of their tribute in for of vanilla. Also Cortez was enthusiastic for it. The caravel, which was heavily loaded with gold, proving his success to the Spanish King, carried also several vanilla pods. At the Spanish court, people were instantly impressed by the fine vanilla aroma. Everyone who could afford it used the condiment for showing his or her status in society from now on.

Out of the memories of historians, the further proceedings can easily be reconstructed. The Aztecs were now convinced that the Spaniards were no gods at all. In a huge riot the Spaniards were defeated and driven out of the capital. The head of state, Montezuma, was killed while trying to reassure his people. Also Cortez had to flee. But the successful Aztecs now faced new, a far more dangerous and mighty foe: smallpox. The immune system of the Aztecs could not fight this newly introduced disease. The Aztecs died in high numbers. Therefore, Cortez was able to recapture Tenochtitlan. The Spanish royal couple now finally awarded Cortez with the sought after title Governor and with it Vice King of New Spain. Due to jealousy and intrigues, Hernán Cortez had to return to the Spanish Court. He died at the age of 62 years at his Spanish countryside manor, feeling bitter. It should be accounted positively for him, that he treated legitimate and illegitimate offspring without differences. He successfully fought for a full recognition of his illegitimate children by the pope. So, also the children that had an Indian mother were therefore raised into nobility.

The triumphal procession of vanilla had become unstoppable meanwhile. Not only the Spanish Court found a new darling with it, also the remaining European Courts were delighted by the strange pod. In Europe, tasting vanilla stayed to be a privilege for the royals. Cardinal Richelieu is said to have used the sexually stimulating effects of vanilla to show numerous court ladies his qualities. In fact, vanillin, the fragrance in vanilla, shows chemical structures similar to human pheromones. Also Mexican ladies from high society took advantage of its stimulating effect by rubbing it onto hair and skin. This may ba a reason why vanilla is part of many perfumes and care products. That trading vanilla was a monopoly of Spain for nearly 300 years has two reasons, and one of them may have had its roots in the plant itself, as scientists found out later. Firstly, exports of vanilla plants were strictly controlled. Violations were punished with death row. But this did not keep some bold Dutch seafarers to bring some cuttings out of Spain. The Dutch as well as the French tried to cultivate vanilla thereafter. To resemble tropical climate conditions as close as possible, botanical gardens and green houses were used, as well as growing areas in tropical colonies. First results became visible shortly afterwards. The cuttings rooted in the soil immediately. Pieces cut from plants could be planted elsewhere without difficulties. Wonderful orchids bloomed on lianas. The only setback: not a single vanilla fruit started to grow. After numerous tries the project was stopped. Growing vanilla was further limited to the regions of South and Central America.

Not earlier than 1838, the Belgian biologist Charles Morren published completely new findings. Charles Morren had found out that vanilla belongs to the family of self-pollinators. The flowers of the liana-like orchids, climbing up to 15 metres, open only for a few hours per day. Only during this tie window pollination is possible. Only a domestic kind of bee was able to pollinate the plant by connecting the deeply nested female stigma with the male pollen. Only after a successful pollination a green fruit capsule will grow – the vanilla pod.

Charles Morren lay the foundation for worldwide cultivation with his knowledge. The sophisticated instruments built for manual pollination though made a commercially sensible utilisation in the field impossible. This should be changed three years later by the black slave Edmond Albius. The reasons for his discovery are differently described from one source to the other. Still the most likely theory is, that the, in those days twelve years old, boy worked as a slave on a sugar cane plantation on the island of Bourbon, today’s Reunion. His mistress loved to sit amidst her orchid breeding and to enjoy the smell of the numerous blooming flowers. But she also just loved to discipline her slaves for the smallest misdeed with her cane. In revenge, Edmond Albius beat with a cane onto the beloved orchid breeding, which also had one vanilla orchid in it. Just coincidently the flower was pollinated by this and formed a vanilla pod seven month later. Building on this experience, Edmond Albius found out that a bamboo splinter could be used to pull back the membrane that inhibited pollination and to unite both genders using gentle force. As a result of this discovery, the Mexican vanilla monopoly broke away completely. Even though vanilla flowers are still pollinated manually today, the largest growing areas of vanilla are found in Madagascar, the Comoros and Reunion.

Products at violey are originally intended for sale into the German market. This explains why most of the labelling on product packages is in German only.

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