Vanilla; Vanilla bean

Vanilla, sometimes called the orchid of flavor, is the most widely used flavoring agent in the pastry kitchen. Its uses are endless because its taste complements just about every other flavor and improves many. Vanilla also has the distinction of being more expensive than any other flavoring or spice, with the exception of saffron, due in large part to its long growth and production process; it can take up to one year, from blossom to cured vanilla bean, to produce a product of the highest quality.