How is it possible that I — an evolved sensualist woman — who is writing a Food Seduction blog, don’t know that the vanilla bean, or natural vanilla, as opposed to synthetic vanilla, comes from vanilla orchids?

I am astonished to discover this fact, given my passion for orchids and sensual flavorings.

via John Sax at FlickrVanilla planifolia is a vigorous, vining orchid that can reach up to 300 feet in its native tropical American environment.

I was always embarassed about loving vanilla ice cream more than other flavors.

When people think their sex life is too traditional, what do they say? That they’re too ‘vanilla’. Vanilla is boring, right? The opposite of an aphrodisiac.

I have been so wrong about vanilla. The minute I read about vanilla bean being born in two species of orchids, my entire perception was turned inside out. And my vanilla do-over didn’t stop there.

The history of genuine vanilla, a flavoring even more expensive than saffron, is closely linked to chocolate. We all think of chocolate as being an aphrodisiac, but vanilla was an additive in the famous Azteca drink, Chocolati, which actually began with the Maya.

Vanilla: Hot Then to Calming Now

Vanilla was so treasured in Mesoamerican culture, that along with cacao, it became a form of currency.

The Azteca Emperor Moctezuma allegedly drank as many as 50 cups of vanilla-infused Chocolatl, which was said to be the reason for his success with women.

Curiously, the Spainiards returned from South America, proclaiming vanilla and chocolate to be an erotic duo. Today’s researchers have studied the calming, stress-reduction properties of vanilla. Yet the Spanish considered vanilla to be “hot” and chocolate “cold”.