Vanilla

Daily Gratitude Year 6- Day 172: Today, I am grateful for vanilla. 

That lovely little extract from the vanilla bean that ups the "yum" factor in so many things. I like the smell, too, if it isn't too overpowering. 

Back in the days of King Solomon, spices were as precious as gold and jewels. They were often gifted and traded. When the Queen of Sheba visited him, her caravan was loaded with spices. I don't think vanilla was one of them.

Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. -1 Kings 10:10

The known history of vanilla in a nutshell is this: The Aztecs conquered the Totonacs in the 15th Century and acquired vanilla; The Spanish conquered the Aztecs and gained vanilla. 

Today, we use vanilla in baking, frostings and so many other things. Vanilla ice cream is more popular than chocolate in the USA. The vanilla version is more user friendly when served with pies. 

One of my favorite hot teas is a London Fog. It is Earl Gray with cream, lavender and vanilla. 

Imagine a world without vanilla. It would change the taste of things. 

Today, I am grateful for vanilla.