Madagascar Vanilla - Red Pure Vanilla - Direct From Factory 200 Boxes of vanilla beans AVAILABLE Vanilla is a flavoring derived from the seed pods of certain species of orchids, primarily from the genus Vanilla. The most commonly used species is Vanilla planifolia, The flavoring is extracted from the seed pods, or beans, of the vanilla plant by a process called curing. The curing process involves a series of steps that includes sweating, sun-drying, and fermentation. The resulting product is a brown, fragrant, and oily substance called vanilla extract, which is used to flavor a wide variety of food and beverage products, including ice cream, baked goods, and perfumes. Vanilla is also the second most expensive spice after saffron, due to the labor-intensive process of growing and harvesting the vanilla bean. Vanilla is also used as a natural remedy for some health conditions, such as insomnia and anxiety.