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FoodSurprise 4/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

Vanilla is the only widely used spice that comes from an orchid.

Why it is true

Vanilla is extracted from the pods of a climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, native to Mexico. Natural pollination is done by bees and hummingbirds, but outside Mexico the plant is only pollinated by hand, which explains the high price of the spice.

Source: Kew Gardens

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