Vanilla-its botany, history, cultivation and economic import

From the secretly prepared chocolate-flavoring condiment oi the Aztec emperor, Montezuma, to the ice cream-flavoring ingredient oi today, vanilla has tor tour centuries been an important item in the spice trade of the world. Originally Mexican, about 90% oi the world's 1,000 annual metric tons oi vanilla "beans" come from Mada'gascar, nearly 50% oi which are consumed in the United States.