Vanilla plays an important role in Mexican history. Originally from Veracruz it is the second most expensive condiment in the world providing the international gastronomic community with a new flavour. Vanilla ´the fragrant traveler´ gets its scent and taste from the land of the Totonacapan in the state of Veracruz. The fame of this orchid has attracted distinguished visitors to the region seeking information on vanilla cultivation.

The knowledge of vanilla is a legacy from the Totonacs who for more than a thousand years occupied Papantla and its surroundings the Gulf coast region of Mexico.

Vanilla began to gain popularity during the Itzcoalt kingdom (1427-1440). At that time it was called ¨Tlixochitl¨ (black flower); the Totonacs later called it ¨Xanath¨. It was used to perfume a drink called ¨Xocolati¨ which was prepared with vanilla and cocoa for the first banquet offered to Cortes.

Bernal Diaz Del Castillo (narrator of the events from the New Spain) asked Talahuilli (a servant) with great interest, what the emperor and all the great personalities were drinking with such delight. He was informed that it was the drink of the gods. Del Castillo was so amazed by the exquisite flavour that he asked to see the fruits used to make the drink. When shown the cocoa pods and the vanilla beans he was overwhelmed by the incredible perfume of the brown beans known as ¨Xanath¨ (vanilla flower).

The news of a new flavour arrived to Spain in 1520, the origin unknown.

In 1532, Fray Bernardino De Sahagún began investigating the properties of vanilla. He only brought to light the usefulness for digestion.

In 1610 vanilla arrived to England by way of the famous pirate Drake. Drake had seized some vanilla for the King of Spain. The contraband was sent to Queen Isabel who gave some of it to her doctor Hugo Morgan. Morgan baptized is as ¨Lobus aromaticus¨.