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You may be surprised to discover that one of the most popular flavors in the world, vanilla, comes from an orchid. The vanilla orchid vine (Vanilla planifolia) is native to tropical forests of Central and South America. It was first used by Aztecs to flavor their chocolate drink.
A bit more information: Curing the vanilla is also labor intensive. The beans are dipped in boiling water, dried in the sun and covered at night. This takes several months for the vanilla flavor to develop.
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