What vanilla is made of?

Here's a breakdown:

* Vanilla orchid: This is a climbing vine that produces pods called vanilla beans.

* Vanilla beans: These pods contain tiny seeds called vanilla seeds.

* Vanilla seeds: These seeds are what give vanilla its characteristic flavor and aroma.

To get vanilla extract, the vanilla beans are cured and then soaked in alcohol, extracting the flavoring compounds from the seeds. This results in the concentrated vanilla extract we use in cooking and baking.

So, in essence, vanilla is the essence of the seeds of the vanilla orchid.