Vanilla Pod (1ud)

The climbing plant of vanilla belongs to the orchid family, with ephemeral flowers that last only one day. The yellow-green fruit that emerges a month after flowering is harvested before reaching full maturity. The pods undergo the 'Bourbon method,' a process that involves high-temperature steam immersion followed by several months of fermentation. During this time, the pods oxidize, acquiring a dark brown color and a flexible texture. In cooking, the pod is usually used by cutting it longitudinally to extract the precious and tiny sticky black seeds. The rest of the pod can be cut into pieces to flavor sugar or ground for use in recipes, as its aroma is potent and delicious. For those who love the unmistakable taste of vanilla, you can enhance a Tea Shop variety that already contains it by adding more from the interior of the pod. It can also be added as a complement to blends that don't have it, creating a unique flavor.