Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla , primarily from the species Vanilla planifolia , also known as Bourbon or Madagascar vanilla. This species originally comes from Mesoamerica, particularly parts of modern-day Mexico, where it was first domesticated by the Totonac people along the eastern coast. The Aztecs later adopted its use, especially to flavor their chocolate drinks. Vanilla was introduced to Europe in the 1520s by Hernán Cortés

. Today, the majority of the world’s vanilla is grown in tropical regions within 10-20 degrees of the equator. The largest producers are Madagascar and neighboring islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean, along with Indonesia. Madagascar alone, along with these islands, produces about two-thirds of the world's vanilla supply. Other notable vanilla-growing regions include Mexico, Tahiti, Indonesia, and Uganda

. Vanilla cultivation outside Mexico became possible after the discovery of hand-pollination in 1841 by Edmond Albius on Réunion Island, as the specific native bee that naturally pollinated the vanilla orchid in Mexico does not exist elsewhere. This labor-intensive process remains the standard for vanilla production worldwide

. In summary, vanilla originates from Mexico but is now primarily produced in Madagascar and other tropical islands, with cultivation relying on manual pollination due to the absence of the native Mexican pollinator bee in these new regions