Cbe 



journal of Pharmacology, 



Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 



Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 



Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 



Published by the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of Ntw York. 



Vol. V. 



NEW YORK, MARCH, 1898. 



No. 3. 



THE COMMERCE OF VANILLA. 



By Adolpii Henning, 1'h.g. 



LIBRARY 

 NEW 

 BOTa 



CiAkUEN. 



The United States is the largest consumer of vanilla. We use more 

 than all the rest of the world combined and chiefly the best kinds produced. 



The vanilla most used, and best known in this market, is the pod of 

 vanilla planifolio, grown in Mexico, chiefly near Papantla. 



It is the best flavored vanilla of all that come to this market. The pods 

 are from five to eight and a half inches, sometimes nine inches, in length, 

 round and tapering at both ends, with a hook at one end; in color they 

 vary from a reddish brown to almost black, and when of prime quality, are 

 of a dark chocolate color, with a thin, smooth, oily epidermis and quite 

 pliable. As found in market in recent years, they rarely have a covering 

 of crystals. 



The Bourbon or Beiinion vanilla is next in point of quality and flavor. 

 It resembles the Mexican very much in general appearance, excepting that 

 it is generally covered with crystals of vanillin. 



The odor of this variety is not so fine' as that of the Mexican, being 

 "pruney," though an extract made from the best Bourbon fruit compares 

 very well with one made from the best Mexican. 



In color and quality the Bourbons range from the very worst to the 

 very finest, and in size from very small to very large, -1 to 8^ inches in 

 length. The vanillin crystals also vary much, there being long, snow-white 

 crystals, white matted masses resembling cotton, and light and dark yellow 

 crystals. This variation in color of crystals is due solely to their age. 



Vanilla imported from the Island of Mauritius resembles the Bourbon 

 very much, its color ranging from a reddish to a dark-brown. The crystals 

 of vanillin appearing upon them are usually very handsome. The Mauritius, 

 as also the Bourbon, vanilla is chiefly imported from France. 



