Black tea and vanilla: when opposites attract
Him, soft, strong, delicate, light, tangy or sweet. She, spicy and velvety… The black tea and vanilla go together wonderfully. From 1888, Pavel Mikhaïlovitch Kousmichoff associated them and created Prince Wladimir tea, an exceptional blend based onEarl Grey, vanilla and citrus. Become iconic, this tasty blend of tea and vanilla has spanned the centuries. And it’s not for nothing: the strong fragrant power of vanilla delicately balances thebitterness of tea. Inconstant, the most gourmet spices also combines with Rooibos. This gentle drink, from Africa, is enhanced by the captivating vanilla scent.
Vanilla, a spice full of aroma
Vanilla owes its characteristic aromatic power to vanillin. A small, but powerful compound: it only represents 2% of the pod's portion! Did you know? Vanillin can only be felt through the nose. It is the phenomenon of retro-olfaction which gives us the impression of a “taste”: in the event of a blocked nose, vanilla goes unnoticed. We are therefore talking about aromas and not flavors, distinguished by the language (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami).
The aromas and flavors of tea
For his part, tea releases different aromas and flavors , depending on whether it is green, black or white. Take the example of green tea... Brewed, it presents a noble bitterness due to certain of its components such as tannin for example. But green tea also offers a certain sweetness, notably thanks to the amino acids that compose it. Beyond their taste association, vanilla and teawould have excellent health benefits...
What are the health benefits of vanilla and tea?
The spicy vanilla tea counts on the strengths of its two key ingredients. We take a gourmet break without feeling guilty while enjoying a cup of vanilla tea.
The benefits of vanilla
Vanilla would have a stimulating effect on the digestive system : ideal after a hearty meal, it would make digestion easier. A bout of stress? Vanilla is your best ally: the spice helps reduce stress and anxiety. It would also slow down cellular aging. It is also said that this spice is said to be an aphrodisiac…We’ll let you test it!
The virtues of tea
Here again, the tea is complementary to vanilla ! It contains polyphenols - a substance with antioxidant properties - which just like vanilla, would represent real anti-aging shields. You now know a lot about aromas, flavors and benefits of tea and vanilla. But where are these ingredients grown to unlock their full potential?
Where do tea and vanilla come from?
First cultivated in Latin America, Today, vanilla is mainly produced in Madagascar. Originally from the Far East, tea is grown in South America, Africa and around the Black and Caspian Seas.
The origin of vanilla
What is vanilla?
Vanilla is the fruit of a climbing plant called vanilla. Of the orchid family, the vanilla tree is the only orchid cultivated for a reason other than ornament. The vanilla plant produces pods which have a dark colored stick shape. These fruits contain a pulp containing small black grains. After their harvest, the vanilla pods will have to undergo several long and delicate processing stages before they can be used in cooking. After a year of work, here we are! The spice then reveals its full taste and olfactory potential.
Where is vanilla grown?
Born in Mexico, vanilla was then imported to the island of Reunion, then called Bourbon Island, before being established in Madagascar. Today, the Red Island provides more than ⅔ of global production each year. The most coveted variety in the world is precisely the Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, renowned for its unique aroma and the quality of its maturation. Did you know? The “Bourbon” appellation was created in the early 1960s to differentiate vanilla produced in the Indian Ocean from others : in Madagascar, the Comoros, Mayotte, Mauritius and Reunion. The vanilla capital of the world is located in the Malagasy region of SAVA, which takes its name from its four main cities: Sambava, Antalaha, Vohemar and Andapa. An idyllic region, it extends over approximately 25,000 km² and concentrates 70% of the island's primary forests!
The origin of tea
How is tea picked?
The tea leaves that you brew come from the tea plant. A bud is present at the end of each stem. The pickers take the leaves after him. The quality of the picking ultimately depends on the number of tea leaves that are picked before this bud. The first harvest of the year takes place in spring. It is very popular because during the winter, the leaves are loaded with essential oils. They are thus rich in aromas!
Where is tea grown?
Eurasia, South America, Africa and Asia… The tea plant grows in hot and humid climates. The ideal time for a tea rich in aroma? Regular rains throughout the year. The altitude also favors the quality of its leaves. The Darjeeling black tea, for example, grows between 700 and 1300 m altitude. Tea crops are often found on sloping soils. The slopes also favor natural drainage. Perfect for the tea maker who doesn't like stagnant water! The vanilla tea therefore has its origins on various continents. This mix of genres and flavors is ideally consumed in the morning, to start the day off on the right foot!