THE Vanilla's, according to the Sieur Rousseau, are Pods or Cods of about half a Foot long, of the Thickness of a Child's little Finger, which hang upon a Plant of twelve or fifteen Foot high, that climbs like a Creeper; for which Reason they grow most frequently upon Walls, or at the Roots of Trees, or else upon Props, or the like, whereby they are supported. They have round Stalks, dispos'd in Knots like the Sugar Cane; from each Knot there put forth large thick Leaves about a Finger's Length, which are as green as the Stalk, and fall off, or wither away, as the great Plantane does; after which come Pods which are green at first, yellowish afterwards, and grow browner, according as they ripen. When they are ripe, the People of Mexico, those of Guatimala, and St. Domingo, gather them, and hang 'em up by one End in the Shade to dry: and when they are dry enough to keep, they rub them with Oil, to hinder them from drying too much, and prevent their breaking, and then they put them up in little Bags of fifty, a hundred, or a hundred and fifty, to bring them hither. Nevertheless, there are some who value their Gain more than their Conscience, who let them hang upon the Stalks 'till over ripe, and receive from them a black fragrant Balsam, that flows till the essential Parts of the Vanilla are exhausted, and it can run no more; and then they gather the Pods and pack them up for Sale, as aforesaid.
The great Lords of Mexico are mighty Lovers of these Plants, as well because of the pleasant Smell of their Fruit, which they mix plentifully in their Chocolate, as from the great Profit they yield them in Trade. They are the Spaniards who bring us this rich Commodity, and who give it the Name of Vanilla, which signifies a Sheath, because the Pod resembles the Figure of a Sheath. It is of a pleasant Taste and Smell. Chuse such as are well fed, thick, long, new, heavy, not wrinkled, or rubb'd with Balsam, and which have not been kept moist, but of a good Smell: and beware of those that are small, and dry, and of little Smell, and the Seed of which is very little, black and shining. The Vanilla's are much us'd in France for making up Chocolate, and sometimes to perfume Snuff. Some pretend the internal Part of the Pod is good to strengthen the Stomach. As to the Balsam, the Spaniards keep that, for we have none of it brought to us.
Vanilla, or Vanilla's is a Pod, of about half a Foot long, and the Thickness of a Child's Finger, sharp at both Ends, of a dark Colour, a pleasant balsamick Taste and Smell, a little acrid, containing very small, black, shining Seeds: This Pod is the Fruit of a Kind of Volubilis, or a Plant of four or five Foot high, which the Spaniards call Campeche. It rises like a Creeper, and winds about the neighbouring or adjacent Trees, upon Poles, or climbs upon Walls. The Leaves resemble those of Plantane, but they are larger and more fleshy. The Flowers are blackish. This Plant grows in Mexico, where the Indians call it Tlixochitl, and the Pod Mecasuthill.
Chuse such Vanilla's as have the longest Pods, pretty thick and heavy, well fed, of a good Taste and pleasant Smell. It yields a great deal of Oil and volatile Salt; is cordial, cephalick, stomachick, carminative, aperitive. It attenuates viscous Humours, provokes Urine, and Womens Courses; is mix'd in Chocolate, and makes it agreeable both to the Taste and Smell.