The History of Vanilla

Interesting that vanilla and cocoa cone from the americas but are primarily produced elsewhere (mostly Africa (c) and Asia (v))

Vanilla is more subtle and less overpowering. Chocolate is “decadent”. It’s good on occasion, but too much too often and it over satiates whereas vanilla can keep on going, less filling, more aromatic, more nuanced, more delicate.

The final paragraphs of the article launch unexpectedly into a cursory attack on a Friends Of Earth campaign which is centered on the GMO aspect of new vanillin synthesis and the marketting of GMO products as natural. The author takes the opportunity to characterise FOEs position roughly without mentioning GMOs at all, introducing it as "downright dumb".

Friends of the Earth are quite fanatical about actual natural food and conditions, whether that be a good or bad approach in these times. National geographic under ownership of the Murdochs seems free to pick and omit information for its advertisers fanaticisms.