Chocolate

[Lesley Cox]

When did vanilla pods become beans Lesley?

I don't know. Did they ever?

[Anthony Darby]

It seems they are here in Auckland, but seems to be worldwide! I see it everywhere - even a paint colour! First I thought how odd, and wondered what kind of bean (those things inside the pod of a legume are beans, not the pod) they were adding to vanilla. This web site says they are called Mexican beans in Mexico. http://www.vanilla.com/index.php/TROPICAL-FOODS/VANILLA/vanilla-beans.html No they are NOT!! I can understand coffee beans, as they are bean-shaped, but vanilla pods aren't and the seeds are microscopic!

[bulborum]

Anthony

It was difficult
You have to register first,
but you can give a nonsense address,
but I added your (sorry I didn't ask you)
and my comment on there site
lets see how they react

Roland

[Anthony Darby]

Sweet as, Roland.

[annew]

I suppose vanilla pods do look a bit like blackened french beans?

[Anthony Darby]

I think that is why they are called vanilla beans, but the French bean is really a pod with beans inside.

[annew]

Um.. I think I knew that.

[shelagh]

We're off to Bruges next month, it's got a Chocolate Museum and dozens of wonderful Chocolate Shops.  I can almost hear the drools dripping from your lips

[Lori S.]

I can understand coffee beans, as they are bean-shaped, but vanilla pods aren't and the seeds are microscopic!

Errr, no.  Small, yes.

[Lesley Cox]

I suppose vanilla pods do look a bit like blackened french beans?

Don't stir Anne. Anthony's on a crusade here.

[Anthony Darby]

I can understand coffee beans, as they are bean-shaped, but vanilla pods aren't and the seeds are microscopic!

Errr, no.  Small, yes.

All orchid seeds are microscopic. That's the black specks in vanilla ice cream.

[Anthony Darby]

I suppose vanilla pods do look a bit like blackened french beans?

Don't stir Anne. Anthony's on a crusade here.

You suggesting I'm a crusader Lesley? True blue me!

[Maggi Young]

I haven't had my chocolate fix yet today, so I'm a little grumpy....  to my mind, something "microscopic" is something that one needs the aid of a microscope to see.  Even with my eyes (deteriorating badly after all the years of chocolate excess) I can see vanilla seeds without such technical aid.... so, I'm with Lori : they are small, very small, but not microscopically so.

[Anthony Darby]

You would need a microscope to see them clearly, so perhaps almost microscopic?

[Roma]

First flower open today on my old plant of Cosmos atrosanguineus.  Had a good sniff mmmmmmm   I think it has been in the ground at least 15 years and has survived several hard frosts.  It was covered in a good depth of snow last winter when we had a longer than usual spell of severe frost.