Why is it that the wonderful taste of vanilla has come to seem so plain?
Vanilla is a complex, aromatic flavor that is definitely not as plain as it seems.
The story goes that one day, grandma took some sugar from the kitchen, poured it into some vanilla ice-cream trays and garnished each treat with a strip of paper that said, “Enjoy!”
Paradoxically, the ice-creams she created tasted even better than her “innocent” creation, more rich and indulgent. She oftenriched them with chocolates and exotic ingredients like saffron and nuts. They were more than a treat, they were part of the ritual.
Vanilla is one of the oldest and most valuable spices. So ancient, that by the Middle Ages, all the chocolate, all the cookies, all the cakes, and all the pastries were made with vanilla.
The vanilla plant itself is a relative of the more common coffee bean and is native to Central America.
The highest price paid for vanilla ice-cream trays was at the world’s fair in 1892. A Californian man named Samuel Bert was asked by his customers to design and make a special treat for Queen Victoria. Instead of vanilla, Samuel’s concoction used vanilla beans. The Queen loved the treat so much that she penned a letter to the man expressing her appreciation. Below are portions of that letter:
Dear sir,I write to admit that I have been feeling low, for a long time. I had not feeling much in the stomach, but a few days passed and now I am feeling very depressed. I cannot look at sugar and rich food the same way anymore. I know that if I can’t have it, it’s because someone else can’t give it to me.
The season is getting warmer, the days get longer and longer, and just when I think I have had enough, I get a strong urge to eat a peanut butter sandwich.
Why do I feel compelled to eat three peanut butter sandwiches in a row for a full week? Why can’t I have my little world of comfort food, just because the season is warmer? Every time I taste a peanut butter sandwich, it slices like butter. It’s like I am in love.
My fears are not generated from my lower self-esteem, but from the fear of getting diabetes. The emotional impact is worse than the physical feeling. I would feel nothing if I lost weight, but losing my appetite is the biggest problem I have. Eating only small amounts of sugar and eating no more than two meals of meat and two vegetable dishes per week would satisfy my need to eat. Becoming gluten-free would be easier than I thought. The diet is more than just eating rice and pasta. It is also eating bread, cereal, fruits, eggs, and meats. The coordination of our eating and our metabolism would be very different.
The phytonutrients in rice and other foods have interesting health effects on our body. Studies show that they reduce cholesterol levels and contribute to cardiovascular health. Caution is needed with nuts and seeds, as they are often high in mono-saturated fats. Nuts and seeds are also rich in fiber and many amino acids. You need to read food labels more carefully.
It is easier to get carbohydrate and protein from plants. For example, brown rice and sweet potatoes contain many carbohydrates, but are low in fiber and so are good for low-carb diets. But white rice is Not good for low-carb diets because it is refined. Remember, refined carbohydrates are body’s way of storing and utilizing energy rather than giving energy directly to the body. Refined carbohydrates are known to cause a rise in blood sugar and insulin levels, which can possibly lead to diabetes.
It is better to eat a well-balanced diet including whole grains, vegetables, fruit and nuts. Our ancestors ate a lot of vegetables with leafy vegetables for Variety and they lived longer because of it. Seems that more and more recent studies support this old theory.
Before, we always believed that vegetables and fruits were good for us. But now we know that some of these substances contained carcinogenic compounds and antioxidants, which are not good for us. There are studies showing that lewives who take thiamine supplement for their pregnancy will breast feed their baby less.
Apparently there is not enough evidence to prove that these substances cause cancer or other diseases. It could be that we still have to prove their benefit and not prove negative. Cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity can be treated.
These substances are not toxic. They do not cause birth defects, but we should still get them out of our body. We do know that harmful substances can be substances we ingest. But we also know what is poisonous in ourselves.
