Vanilla only grows naturally within the 20-degree band either side of the Equator. Besides being one of the world’s most sought-after natural flavorings, natural vanilla is expensive because growing and harvesting the plant is extremely labor-intensive. Vanilla takes 3 years to grow. Each flower is hand-pollinated, and each bean handpicked and cured for weeks after harvesting to intensify the aroma before they can go to market.
