Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Originally, it comes from Mexico. The small town of Papantla near the Mexican Gulf coast was once the center of the vanilla trade. Already the natives of the Mexican Gulf region knew the secret of vanilla cultivation. In April, the delicate yellow orchid blossom opens for just a few hours. During this short time, they have to be pollinated. A laborious procedure that requires a great deal of skill. With the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish, vanilla also became known in Europe and is still the queen of spices today.