Vanilla

Vanilla may not be as popular as similar counterparts (such as the pandan leaf, rose and other flower essences) in flavoring food, but this ingredient still finds its way into meats and other dishes as a natural sweetener. Milk fudge is always vanilla flavored. Cakes, biscuits and frosting are more likely to be redolent of vanilla than anything else. Vanilla is produced from a bean, which is the seed pod of an orchid.

The plant flourishes in damp, hot climates, and takes delicate handling to produce given that the flowers open for just a few hours in the morning. Harvesting takes some time, but once achieved, it will bear its famous sweet, aromatic and pleasant aroma. Traditional markets in Indonesia do not carry vanilla in great amounts, thus vanilla beans are likely found in specialized or more modern markets.