lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
Here are 2 photos I took today. I'm sure you use them daily in your cooking and baking but can you identify them when they are not harvested, canned, or packeted? 
From my garden :D
- Thread starter lastmanstanding
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Black peppercorns and bay leaves? I grow bay trees.
lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
peppercorns correct. no bay leaves.
There are 3 things in the photos.
2nd photo looks very like bay. Maybe tea? Seems to be some kind of bean in the first photo...
lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
In the 2nd photo there's something other than the leaves. Look carefully, you will find it
You're correct about the 1st photo, but can you guess what bean it is.
I'll give the answers after one more guess
epicuric
Legendary Member
I also guessed peppercorns and bay leaves, There looks something familiar about the flower buds in the second photo, but I can't put my finger on it.
MrsDangermouse
Guru
Is the second photo cloves?
Ah - it must be vanilla beans in the first photo!
I reckon you are right.
lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
Yes!!!
In the first photo peppercorns and vanilla beans
In the second photo cloves
In the first photo peppercorns and vanilla beans
In the second photo cloves
See - we are pretty clever here! Do you grow any other things?
lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
Clove, pepper, vanilla, tea, coffee. Other people in my area grow cardamom too.
This is the clove, pepper, coffee, and vanilla season.
Burt Blank
Legendary Member
lastmanstanding
Well-Known Member
This is the same vanilla but cured. Curing vanilla is a lengthy task of about 6 months, and requires extreme attention and care, and is done only by well-experienced curers. And the curing should be started within 3 days from harvesting or they won't be able to be cured properly.
A kilogramme of raw vanilla is around 35 USD here while cured vanilla is sold at 225 to 350 a kilogramme depending on the grade. That gives an idea of how much value is added by the curing process.
Burt Blank
Legendary Member
lastmanstanding We took a day trip some years ago from Veracruz to visit a plantation and factory it was a great day out.
