Vanilla pods (scraped)

Vanilla pods, also known as vanilla beans, are the cured, dried seed pods of a tropical orchid, dark brown and slightly sticky, containing thousands of tiny black seeds. The pod is typically split lengthwise so the fragrant seeds can be scraped out and used in custards, ice creams, and baking, with the emptied pod often used to infuse liquids for extra flavour. Their labour-intensive production, involving hand-pollination and months of curing, makes them one of the more expensive spices by weight.

Scraping separates the softer interior from tougher fibres, changing the texture and density compared with the whole ingredient.

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