100 seeds of Vanilla Orchid of Madagascar - VANILLA PLANIFOLIA + Gift 5 seeds of Sunflower

Vanilla Orchid

Madagascar vanilla has the same basic taste as Mexican vanilla, as they both come from the same plant. The difference is that in Madagascar, pollination is done by bees rather than human hands. Madagascar vanilla traces its roots back to 1800 when the orchard was introduced to Madagascar from Mexico. The product is also referred to as Bourbon vanilla, but it is not made with bourbon whiskey. The bourbon name is derived from the region where the vanilla was traditionally grown. Madagascar supplies two-thirds of the world’s vanilla consumption, making it by far the most common and popular variety.

Vanilla planifolia is a species of the vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico and Belize. It is one of the primary sources of vanilla flavoring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names include flat-leaved vanilla, and West Indian vanilla (also used for the Pompona vanilla, V. pompona). Often, it is simply referred to as "the vanilla"

Flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in). They last only a day and must be pollinated manually, during the morning, if the fruit is desired. The plants are self-fertile, and pollination simply requires a transfer of the pollen from the anther to the stigma. If pollination does not occur, the flower is dropped the next day. In the wild, there is less than a 1% chance that the flowers will be pollinated, so in order to receive a steady flow of fruit, the flowers must be hand-pollinated when grown on farms.

Fruit is produced only on mature plants, which are generally over 3 m (10 ft) long. The fruits are 15–23 cm (6–9 in) long pods (often incorrectly called beans). Outwardly they resemble small bananas. They mature after about five months, at which point they are harvested and cured. Curing ferments and dries the pods while minimizing the loss of essential oils. Vanilla extract is obtained from this portion of the plant.

Sunflower - Gift

Rich in energy giving oils, Black Sunflower Seeds will attract a variety of birds to your garden.