vanilla bean Vanilla is a native of Mexico and is still produced there, though the vanilla most renowned these days comes from the island of Madagascar. The flavor is in the vanilla beans, the long (four inches or more), very slender pods of the vanilla tree. They are usually sold in cellophane packages, often only three or four at a time. Try placing one in a jar of sugar; it will perfume it delightfully. Once used in cooking (for example, to make rice pudding), a bean can be rinsed off and then reused several times. For stronger flavor, slice the bean lengthwise before using.
