Vanilla is the baker’s best friend. Its beautiful rounded flavour brings out sweetness and caramel notes in its accompanying ingredients making it an excellent addition to cakes, custard, ice cream and patisserie.

Its use in European cooking is synonymous with sweet dishes but in much of the world it is considered a savoury spice. For something a little different, try pairing with the wonderful sweet savouriness of lobster. 

Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices available – saffron takes the prize for the most pricey. Its high cost is due to the intense labour needed to produce each bean. The pods hold the seed of the vanilla orchid and each flower must be pollinated individually. Once harvested, the pods are dried and sweated before being used in perfume making and aromatherapy as well as the culinary world.