Vanilla, the most popular flavour in the world, originated in Mexico. Brought to Europe about 1520 by the explorer Cortez, it was first used only in conjunction with cacao beans in a drink called Chocolati. Since 1602 it has been enjoyed as a flavour by itself. Grown mainly in Madagascar and Indonesia, as well as other minor areas, the vanilla bean, or pod, is the only edible fruit-bearing orchid. Each flower, open only one day a year, must be hand pollinated to produce a pod which requires a labour intensive 3-6 month curing process to develop full flavour. About 5 pounds of harvested pods produce only 1 pound of cured pods. Our exclusive cold process method extracts the essence from selected vanilla pods, the finest obtainable, producing rich and delicious flavour that is unsurpassed. Use and enjoy! Alcohol 35%.