VANILLA. 



109 



rounder than the seeds of the true cardamom : they are of 

 a glossy dark-brown colour, and a warm pungent taste, re- 

 sembling pepper, with a slight flavour of camphor. The 

 natives of Africa use this seed as a spice, and with them it 

 is in great esteem. With us it is used to give a fictitious 

 strength to spirits and beer, but principally the former, 

 being extensively used with capsicum and juniper-berries to 

 give a hot strong flavour to London gin ; it is also used in 

 some veterinary medicines. The former use is illegal, but 

 it nevertheless prevails to a great extent. The quantity im- 

 ported is about 1 8 tons annually. 



Vanilla. — The seed-pods of Vanilla aromatica, (Nat. 

 Ord. Orchidacem.) 



The Vanilla, or Vanile^ as it is sometimes called, is in 

 the form of long thin pods, from nine to twelve inches in 

 length, but not exceeding a quarter of an inch in thickness, 

 filled throughout their entire length with very minute black 

 oily seeds, having the appearance of a black paste ; the out- 

 side of the pod is slightly wrinkled in longitudinal furrows, 

 and is of a shining dark -brown colour; altogether it resembles 

 a thin brown stick rather than the seed-vessel of a plant. 

 Both the flavour and smell of vanilla is remarkably delicate 

 and agreeable, and is peculiar to the Orchideous plants. 



