Main content

A Guide to Spice, part 2: Vanilla

Sheila Dillon embarks on a journey through the spice world. She looks at the modern vanilla trade and meets a young British vanilla grower.

Do you know how vanilla beans are hand pollinated? Do you know why harvested vanilla pods are wrapped in hot blankets?

Sheila Dillon reveals all as she continues her exploration of the modern spice world by looking at vanilla.

Reporter Vanessa Kimbell travels to Uganda to meet Lulu Sturdy, a British furniture designer who inherited a run down estate in Uganda, and within a decade has turned it into an influential source of quality vanilla beans. She follows this year's harvest and hears the incredible effort involved during the careful processing of the pods.

Chef Jeremy Lee and Niki Segnit, author of The Flavour Thesaurus provide a guide to flavour combinations and cooking techniques with vanilla.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Aug 2012 15:30

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Aug 2012 12:32
  • Mon 27 Aug 2012 15:30

Featured in...

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Can comfort foods really make you feel better?

Yes they can, says Sheila Dillon.

Podcast