The flavorful story of vanilla

With so many of us staying at home these days and spending more time in the kitchen, vanilla sales, of all things, are booming. Correspondent Seth Doane travels to the island of Madagascar - which supplies 80% of the world's vanilla - to learn more about the extraordinarily colorful (and sometimes unsavory) story of a familiar spice, and why this valuable cash crop can be worth more by weight than silver.
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[@phaelm6739]

So glad they touched on the behind the scenes and "real cost" of producing this. i.e. salaries, theft, poverty,deforeststion, etc.

[@Jorge-cs6yv]

Mexico offered the world ; chocolate, vanilla, avocado, and much more

[@MiloSatori]

Corn, tomato, turkey, and annoying chihuahuas 😎

[@devilsfavorite999]

Drugs, crime and migrants 😁

[@taniaplay9204]

​@@devilsfavorite999jajajajaja eso lo hizo USA deberías viajar a México y ver todo lo que hace USA, aquí no se restringe la información como en tu país, o acaso viste el discurso que mi presidente hizo al tuyo sobre el fentanilo? Aquí la gente no consume esa cosa por qué no existe aquí viaja

[@camrentoorealcam8437]

Popcorn and tacos too.

[@camrentoorealcam8437]

@@devilsfavorite999like if in the USA those things don’t exist. First of all your ancestors are migrants I doubt you’re Native American since the British colonizers wanted them all to disappear. Texas, California, New Mexico, and Nevada are also originally Mexico.

[@staceyleeweeaks-hernandez8583]

I really wish I could smell that workshop space. I'll bet the vanilla scent is beyond wonderful.

[@AudreyHeadley]

They grow the most expensive spice but they are the poorest not right at all

[@skyy5584]

Capitalism at it's best.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Growing doesn't equate to owning. These are merely workers. The land owners are not poor. You are missing your critical thinking capacity.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

@Fracking Saves Learn to read you illiterate idiot. You are just as stupid as the other two.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

@Fracking Saves The sad thing is you still don't realize I'm largely talking about the context I responded to. You'd realize that if you weren't semi-illiterate lmao.

[@stevechance150]

@@skyy5584 There must be a better system than Capitalism. Capitalism is very effective at exploiting resources, and Capitalism sees workers as simply a human resource, to be exploited.

[@missmsmrs.7309]

These ppl should be paid much better! I feel very bad for ANYONE that slaves over something like that just so I can have an amazing product. Give them a raise! They certainly deserve it!

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

@@cherylbremson2421 You are a complete idiot lol.

[@Mustang_Sally_]

Then be willing to pay more

[@jasonbrown467]

there were people willing to do it for more money, but these people under bid the job to ensure they get the job, and then you feel sorry about how little they are paid? i wonder if the quality of the product went down with the price?

[@jerryrice6096]

U ready to pay top dollar 😆

[@johnneedy3164]

Years ago a friend was in Mexico brought me back a huge bottle of vanilla ,was the best I've ever had

[@sunshineandlollipops6930]

I love Sunday mornings

[@djdigital3806]

Me too. Great show!

[@petergamer9022]

I wanna start watching them when they air. Always end up watching these KZbin videos, I love the vibe of the show. Such a calm and relaxed demeanor, true essence of a Sunday morning.

[@patriciahenry262]

Loved this segment. Never knew why real vanilla was so pricey!

[@tombryan1]

Never knew so many are oppressed for a flavoring developed countries seek, exploitation at its worst.

[@j0ellyfish]

@@tombryan1 That's the norm. Sugar cane work is the same.

[@carlosalbertoesquivels8724]

La vainilla es originaria de México.

[@mas-udal-hassan9277]

No 👎

[@marthamika7372]

Thanks for the program on vanilla beans, I now to appreciate those who provide this product to the whole world

[@tombryan1]

Idiot, they practically enslave the workers and you praise it.

[@anoldmannameddave7455]

You’d think this lady would give some of her fortune to help the people there. Maybe she does, but a pittance doesn’t count in my book.

[@dougfromsoanierana]

As a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Madagascar (2003-05) I think this story does a pretty good job introducing people to vanilla farming in Mada and some of the complications. I was waiting for the reporter to ask the woman who owned the vanilla company why she doesn’t pay her workers more.

[@e-rockmixtapes4073]

The lady that owns the business buys from the farmer/supplier. She does not set those wages, the supplier does. As you can see by the one guys new car and motorcycle wages don't trickle down. Just like here.

[@jasonbrown467]

remember other higher paid people used to do this job, the people in madagascar under bid the job to get said job, they got the work they asked for and want and you feel sorry for them? seems like you assume they need iphones and air conditioning. i wonder if the quality of the product has suffered while giving these people jobs that pulled them from the mud and cow poo

[@mike-0451]

@@e-rockmixtapes4073 CEOS get paid a lot for a reason. Higher skill jobs pay higher wages. That’s how it is.

[@bfreeman4]

RPCV Mali, 2007-2009. Best experience of my life. I bet Madagascar was wonderful.

[@mike-0451]

Actually I was wrong. They are paid way too much.

[@catg6114]

7:27 ... and again at 7:32 This lady handshakes are worth at least a comment... 😝

[@wannabeDarma]

Soooo awkward. I went into the comments to see if anybody else made note of it. Thanks for the timestamps.

[@Menga213]

Very authentic for the camera. Like the 1st time

[@jazminemartinez5003]

My husband is from this area of Madagascar, and as happy as I am that workers are earning more, it’s not enough for all the hard labor. There needs to be reform.

[@julieharden2433]

Vanilla from Mexico is the best.

[@ahaaha5559]

De Veracruz!

[@mwoods1052]

ALL of Mexican vanilla, while tasting great and cheap, is NOT real vanilla. Mexico has not had a real vanilla industry in a very long time. Many people rave about Mexican vanilla but is ARTIFICIAL or IMITATION vanilla, no matter what the label says. I know. I recently researched this issue extensively when I wanted to buy vanilla where I live in Mexico.

[@latinauniversal]

@@mwoods1052 You are talking about industries and we are talking about the origin. So sit down !

[@taniaplay9204]

​@@mwoods1052quizá porque no supiste encontrar, pero la vainilla en México se encuentra en todas partes.

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

My Mother was an educator starting in the early 50s when she taught jr high school she noticed many of her students didn’t know where their food came from beyond the can or box. I was lucky to have grandparents that were farmers and parents that encouraged learning to live off the land and couldn’t believe children did not know where their food came from nor could they survive on there own. I thought everyone knew these things. I would take 2+ week trips into the woods only taking matches,herbs, spices a fishing pole and aluminum to cook in or in. This was 50+ years ago b/4 tv shows called survivors. Everyone should know what they r eating and where it came from to respect and not waste the food they r lucky enough to have where many r not so lucky I think it would teach them to not waste.

[@janeforever]

My mother's parents were rancher/farmers. When we'd go for summertime visits, we'd pick cotton, harvest veggies, gather eggs, feed pigs, milk cows, etc. Couple of times during the year we'd go to pick up calf grandad raised that had been butchered & frozen for our meat supply. It was packed in dry ice, put in parents trunk, then into freezer when we got home. When our kids were growing up we had a HUGE garden because we had a great big backyard with room enough for it. Our grandkids too have been raised with gardens, chickens, & goats. So lucky in this day & time to even have space for things like that since they now build homes on the size of half a postage stamp with absolutely no space for anything. Am always happy when I hear about community gardens too so at least there's some hope for kids to learn where food comes from.

[@earldeanpowell]

Growing up in San Antonio, you made trips to Nuevo Laredo to Get cheap liquor, cheap prescription meds, great craft shopping and don't you DARE come home without a giant bottle of the real-deal vanilla. ok, others went for other things too, but even they had to bring home vanilla!

[@Theonlyrealdanne]

Vanilla is my favorite everything!🎯🤧

[@ronishshrestha7111]

Yhp 4 sureee😎🤠

[@mindakahn9964]

I’m going to continue buying Mexican vanilla. I love the rich lady with the 100 year old company, that she inherited, and the matter of fact attitude toward poverty. I make my own extract i know where my beans come from.

[@epramos6800]

Mexican Vanilla is the best...

[@liliana1lfr]

Love "exotic" spices, like Madagascar vanilla, Jamaican Allspice. Really makes whatever you're cooking or baking award worthy. Great feature segment.

[@angelahamlett8249]

Same sad story of oppression. Worldwide.

[@mwoods1052]

And lots of corruption and theft along the way, keeping the workers in poverty.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

This is the opposite of oppression. These people are being given an income and a crop to make good money to make a living. Otherwise they would be oppressed and living like those in Hatti making dirt cookies to feed their children.

[@whatthebleepisgoingonbleep5052]

@silky johnson you don't know what socialist is if you think this is socialist - socialism is your military, libraries and social security , roads and parks, you use those every day so yea

[@CatsPajamas]

silky johnson can it

[@stevechance150]

@@whatthebleepisgoingonbleep5052 Oh you can bet your last dollar that Mr. Silky expects his Medicare and his Social Security. You can also bet that Silky believes America is the greatest country but Silky has never actually been to any European countries. I've been to Europe, I've seen a better system than we have in the states.

[@livingoffstreets1357]

Im a 42 yo male and began watching a decade or so ago. I love the whole production of the show such as the stories, their point of view through a diverse approach to learning, their look back at historical content. Outstanding CBS, keep it coming!

[@Umbrax9063]

I love vanilla. It is my favorite flavor for really any sweet food

[@johnnygee4206]

Always wondered why vanilla was so pricey. But after seeing 8 year olds piled into prison camps for stealing it, I'm wondering why it doesn't cost more. WTH!

[@daneildunkley2866]

I am obsessed with vanilla beans🥹

[@abrahamgarza4012]

the way the white lady talked about Madagascar being the "default" country because they can pay the workers so little.... that did not sit right with me. These workers deserve a much larger cut of the profits. I don't care that they don't own the land or the crops these people earn it through their hard work

[@connorkenway09]

As the video showed she buys the product from the supplier which was the black dude with a fancy car hidden in that garage

[@MSanz-jc2bg]

Vanilla and chocolate origin in Mexico,should of gone there.

[@karmicobsession1636]

They went to the country that is the largest producer of Vanilla

[@mwoods1052]

Mexico does not have a vanilla industry any longer and hasn’t for a very long time. The cheap vanilla you purchase in Mexico is imitation from everything I’ve read about this issue. I just purchased a 16oz bottle of real vanilla from a company in CA and it was very expensive.

[@noematz5711]

They never cover that vanilla is an ancient mexican spice, that couldn't be grow up outside of mexico, all the vanilla supply came from mexico and then was even more expensive

[@noematz5711]

@Amy Sternheim but the originall ecosystem of vanilla in mexico is very limited for the demand

[@J0ZZE123]

@@mwoods1052 lol, you need to do a better research. Can't be imitation when is the homeland and birthplace of vanilla.

[@djdigital3806]

I like vanilla ice cream 🍨 with the vanilla specks!😊

[@montemccarty6512]

I wake up for cbs Sunday mornings. Great stories and commentaries.

[@J0ZZE123]

Vanilla is actually from Mexico. The Portuguese took it to Madagascar.

[@mas-udal-hassan9277]

No

[@angelina6543]

I would watch that war movie

[@or529]

FYi, Vanilla actually came from Mexico. The Europeans took the vanilla from Mexico and planted the pods all over the world. From Tahiti to Madagascar. The town of Veracruz has a hugh festival honoring the native plant.

[@curbsideseat9794]

This segment just spiced things up in my enjoyment and appreciation of pure vanilla.

[@kams7170]

I just wish they were paid more. I would gladly pay more for vanilla to have that money go to Madagascar, such an impoverished country.

[@jasonbrown467]

i always thought of vanillia as "plain" or basic, which is ironic that it is always in some sort of treat. i always thought of it as plan water, but now as an adult i have changed my ways and rather crave vanilla these days.

[@rushpatriot2866]

That's crazy vanilla taste like vanilla there's nothing really like it I've loved vanilla every since I had vanilla ice cream. Love it way more than chocolate

[@brandy2378]

They must smell amazing

[@rsoubiea]

so I live in CA, I now pay more for my vanilla that comes from madagascar instead of its native mexico right next door?

[@mwoods1052]

Mexico does not have a real vanilla industry any longer and hasn’t for a long time. The cheap vanilla from Mexico is imitation all the way, they do not produce REAL vanilla. I did a lot of research on this recently.

[@taniaplay9204]

Viaja a CA y compra vainilla y revendela en USA y listo.

[@taniaplay9204]

​@@mwoods1052quizá no supiste encontrar más allá de los supermercados... Pero en México hay vainilla pura en todos lados, no es USA con comida transgénica la soda y la comida es más natural y entre más vayas al sur del país completamente orgánica

[@juliegilleland7947]

Incredible.

[@libertyann439]

I want some! Bet that factory smells yummy!

[@jalenharris974]

Great journalism!

[@thesunman108]

Thank you.

[@helenboula3538]

I learned my lesson. I ordered some supposedly real vanilla extract from Mexico what I got was water and it had just a tenth of a smell of vanilla in it did I ever get ripped off so I just made my own and called it a day I got my recipe offline I'm a happy camper

[@Tito4349]

its pretty funny that vanilla originated in mexico, but because of labor costs they grow in madagascar

[@docvideo93]

If anyone tells me that vanilla is bland, I'm going to show them this.

[@mohamed52638]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯EXACTLY

[@gardenknitter4]

So why isn’t it being produced in its native habitat, Mexico? Seems like have flies that can pollinate millions of flowers naturally would save on labor.

[@docmccoy95]

It is grown and sold there.

[@veroniquefaison]

Deforestation in Mexico.

[@mwoods1052]

Mexico does not have a REAL vanilla industry, no matter what anyone says. Mexican vanilla, while delicious and cheap, is IMITATION or ARTIFICIAL vanilla. I know. I did a lot of research on this matter recently when I wanted to buy Mexican vanilla where I live (here in Mexico). Sorry, but it’s true.

[@docmccoy95]

@@mwoods1052 Sorry but you're wrong. Vanilla originated in Mexico. May I ask what references you used?

[@mwoods1052]

Doc McCoy HI Doc, I did not say vanilla did not originate in Mexico. It did and I believe was once a robust industry. TODAY they do not have a real vanilla industry (except they do make a lot of imitation vanilla). You can read all about it on vanillaqueen dot com. I bought vanilla from her recently. Right on her home page it says: “Did you know that nearly 99% of vanilla fragrances and flavors are actually artificial? This is devastating to vanilla growers.” There’s all kinds of information and history about vanilla. I didn’t know most of it, but she sure does! Check it out. Lots to learn.

[@caroldente9635]

amazing.

[@beautifulroses1420]

I would rather never taste vanilla again if it would save the forrest.

[@jasminejoseph7858]

Yeah for sure

[@danielt.3152]

Very interesting.

[@omar90s91]

And yet the local people live poor

[@jasonbrown467]

you could give each of these people $100,000 us dollars and come back in ten years and it will look just the same. i dont understand why so many people assume everyone thinks like they do. maybe they like living in cow poo and your judgement of their quality of life is condescending and they dont want your pity, maybe they pity you

[@FupawesleyGot8byWarren]

Side eye to this WHOLE story

[@bernicejustice5235]

WOW 😲 LOVE IT💖💖💖

[@dteed6282]

Excellent segment

[@robb8773]

Wow, who knew......great video!

[@awarenessvillage]

Interesting!

[@elixier1627]

very informative

[@TrakouriJackson]

From Jack Daniels to Vanilla, damn the enslaved created a lot of money

[@ejnaygfantzcg]

That's a 10!

[@jasmeel02]

Seems like using imitation vanilla is the way to go to avoid the deforestation and children in jail that were shown in this segment. So awful

[@jeanneburch2372]

I thought the same thing!

[@bethclark9319]

Sad.

[@xoturquoise]

yeah but then think of how many people are out of a job??? i think there needs to be more investment in the workers and security.

[@jasmeel02]

@@xoturquoise yeah so labor intensive..I wish some of these damn billionaires could pay people to maintain the remaining rainforest. People do this with some of the amazon. It wouldnt be that expensive for them.

[@mindakahn9964]

She really went out of her way to let you see that.

[@northernbrother1258]

All this for a flavor!

[@oblivioneclipse7632]

Im eating vanilla ice cream now :)

[@angelina6543]

Do you feel guilty?

[@ColumbiaQT2001]

Wow. Unbelievable. Imagine why Madagascar is soo poor being the only country that produces vanilla. What kinda world do we live in? They put Vanilla in everything.

[@shashee0000]

My goodness! This story took a turn. It started simple enough and then morphed into a piece about illegal contraband, black markets, incarcerated children.....Who knew!? 🤷‍♀️

[@rosalieponce8426]

I love this segment so much ... I just bought the Lello 4080 ice cream machine & since I have the best machine I need the best bean ... where can I buy the best please ? I hope the workers will get higher wages ... they work hard for the buyers .

[@jeanross7430]

I love the smell and taste too. Shocking that these people are so impoverished.

[@bfreeman4]

Half the world lives that way. Despite the poverty and hardship, they are joyful people-- celebrating love, friendship, marriage, children, etc. just like the rest of us :)

[@peaceandlove544]

Vanilla, Cacao, Cinnamon: Mexican

[@LucarioBoricua]

I believe cinnamon originates from south Asia, especially India and Sri Lanka. Cacao and vanilla definitely originate in Mexico and its Central American neighbors.

[@latinauniversal]

@@LucarioBoricua Was domesticated first by Mexicans so as the tomatoes, and cocoa beans.

[@sailingsam3815]

How about cinnamon?

[@meredithchernov3184]

WHITE WASHED!

[@josefinacabra5936]

Thanks you I baked 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@surendersingal2192]

Great eye opening story of vanilla. It's relationship with black kid Edmond Albius n early mexican society. Never was told black vanilla seed can be fragrant. Moreover the scientist who creat Ed d immitation. Thank you

[@selayargreenchannel6620]

Good news

[@j0ellyfish]

Never have I ever bought a 5 dollar little jar with 3 vanilla sticks in it. Mostly because we can't afford it. So, that exploitation is all for not.

[@Ash-gn2pr]

Fun little fact: Black people were not allowed to eat vanilla ice cream during Jim Crow South (only on July 4th) b/c the vanilla bean was considered a delicacy.

[@yvetteschools6971]

Pay workers an actual living wage world wide, crime drops, but then, less cops, judges,probation officers, social workers, etc

[@FupawesleyGot8byWarren]

Side eye

[@kirbyswenson2818]

And here I am packaging vanilla extract bottles, making 16x as much as most of the workers in Madagascar get for actually making the crop. This is messed up.

[@atklm1]

I don't taste the difference between real and synthetic vanilla. Then again, I don't really taste any profound difference between cheap Chilean red wine and expensive French Bordeaux. I guess I'm lucky.

[@Atlantya]

Rex or just uneducated. It happens.

[@atklm1]

@@Atlantya I have a master's degree in engineering. They didn't taught anything about vanilla nor wine flavors there.

[@dlasky]

Why not introduce the pollinating bee to Madagascar? Mexico and Madagascar are both in the tropical climate, I think they will survive

[@imluctor5997]

did you even wonder where vanilla comes from? Probebly not.. wait but i searched this up myself...

[@MrPrentissDJones]

don’t say cooperative here in America

[@mindakahn9964]

Why? I live in the middle of nowhere Michigan. We have many great small farm co-operatives that are doing well in spite of COVID.

[@MrPrentissDJones]

Minda Kahn and that is the only way a cooperative will exist in America. If you go to countries like Spain, cooperatives are huge enterprises where they share the profits with all of their employees. To an American corporatists “CEOs“ that’s the worst thing they would want .... We live in a democratic country, but there’s nothing democratic about the workplace.

[@melvayaredaguilar]

sometimes that’s that only way to get the best ingredients and produce. by hand

[@kathleenmartin8036]

Vanilla is worth the extra money compared to fake vanilla. Once you use real vanilla, in your baked goods, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc; you will never use imitation vanilla, again.

[@user-sd4ge3dn5s]

👍

[@myshanamakisi6063]

So yall just gonna gloss over the pay of the workers...😒

[@edgeof1956]

I prefer cinnamon over vanilla. Too common. I hate chocolate, too.

[@Shinergise]

Josephine Lochead wrote an interesting article when tragedy hit the SAVA region when Cyclone Enawo hit Madagascar in March 2017 with disastrous effect, claiming 78 lives and displacing 200,000 people from their homes, destroying water courses and washing away hillsides... you can read the story here... cooksvanilla.com/cooks-vanilla-market-report-march-2017/

[@latinauniversal]

Sorry to disappoint you guys but Vanilla was introduce by Hernan Cortez to Europe and the rest of world together with the Xocolatl (chocolate), and it comes from my beloved Mexico.

[@johnreynolds5407]

If the minimum wage is such an effective antipoverty device, why not advocate it in Madagascar as opposed to US foreign aid and taking advantage of lower wages as the proprietor mentions in this story?

[@bridgetcassidy7206]

The things you don't think about.... Who knew?

[@panthomromah1139]

100 dollars a month is very small money nowadays

[@roz7056]

If you raised the standard of living they would not be steal

[@monisolaelliott9346]

Once I went to the store to buy vanilla. I should have checked inside the box before I left the store. Someone had switched out the real vanilla and replaced it with imitation vanilla.

[@laskey2175]

$13,000 car. $25 garage.

[@ChandraNYC]

Well, this was infuriating! Asking the guy running the plantation (as opposed to those in the workforce) if the workers make a decent wage?! No follow-up with the American consumer about her statement on the low wages in Madagascar, and how she feels about directly contributing to this exploitation!?! Grrrrrr!!! #LazyJournalism 👎🏽

[@nesiansoulallstars]

Crazy because if some cartel watches this there done for

[@daveheel]

Bakers over rely on vanilla. And in this story, it's being treated as an illegal drug.

[@morrismsmith7997]

😕🙏

[@bakersbackyardbbq5689]

Did that lady just admit to exploiting cheap labor to harvest her stuff?

[@Lucas_roblox720]

Why was the pineapple near to the vanilla

[@magdalenaavila4115]

Come on. Lets save Madagascar! And its people😣

[@madacabrera8741]

Vanilla is the 2nd expensive spice

[@nikhil13rai]

Why vanilla ice cream is cheaper than other ice cream??? Are we getting scammed in ice cream😅