VANILLA (PART 1)

We’ve already talked about cacao, the pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican currency that became a prized product around the world, but guess what? Mexico has yet another gift that the world loves: vanilla.

Although Madagascar is the leading producer and world leader in the commercialization of this ingredient, vanilla and its use originated in the jungles of Mexico and Central America around 600 AD, specifically by the Totonacs, a civilization that settled in what we now know as Veracruz and northern Puebla.

And since I love stories and legends, I’ll share a beautiful Totonac legend that explains the origin of vanilla.

During the reign of King Teniztle, one of his wives gave birth to a girl named Tzacopontzitza (meaning Morning Star), who was so beautiful that she was consecrated to worship the goddess Tonocayohua, the guardian goddess of crops and food.

One day, a prince named Zkatan-Oxga (Young Deer) fell in love with her and ran away with her into the mountains, fully aware that it would cost them their lives. Along the way, a monster enveloped their path in fire, forcing them to return to where the priests awaited.

Before the prince could even speak, he was beheaded, as was the princess, and their hearts were thrown onto the altar of the goddess. Right there, among the grass, a vine began to sprout, covered with thick foliage from which a climbing orchid bloomed, filling the air with its fragrance: even in death, the lovers remained intertwined in each other's arms.

At that time, vanilla pods were scarce and highly valued, so much so that the Aztecs demanded them as tribute after conquering the Totonacs in the late 15th century. The Totonacs used vanilla to flavor xocoatl, the spiced cacao drink we discussed in the article about cacao.

With the arrival of Hernán Cortés, vanilla began its journey toward global cultivation. The vanilla pod soon found its way into prestigious kitchens around the world, used as an aphrodisiac in the diet of Queen Elizabeth I of England and to rekindle the love of King Louis XV of France by Madame de Pompadour in 1750. This ingredient quickly became part of the global spice trade, reshaping borders and altering economies.

But there was a problem: vanilla production was stalled because each vine produced only one orchid with its fruit, and everyone wanted to add vanilla to their high-end kitchens to impress. So, how did they manage to ensure the plant’s survival to this day? We owe it all to a 12-year-old enslaved boy named Edmond Albius. But I’ll tell you this story in part 2 of this entry, as it deserves its own article.