The True Story Of Vanilla eBook

Moving and bittersweetDiscusses the reality of slavery and the racial violence and prejudice formerly enslaved individuals experienced. Booklist, starred review

In 1841, a 12-year-old enslaved boy, Edmond Albius, made history when he discovered how to hand-pollinate vanilla plants using a bamboo twig.

Until that time, only bees in Mexico could pollinate the plantbotanists couldnt figure out another way. With his master, Edmond travelled around Réunion Island to share his technique, le geste dEdmonde (Edmonds gesture), which is still in use today. Despite his important achievement, as an enslaved person Edmond didnt receive payment or recognition for his contribution to science, eventually dying in poverty after being freed from slavery in 1848. Today it is recognized that Edmonds method of pollination was key to bringing vanilla to the world, helped to create a billion-dollar industry and gave us the flavor we love to use in cooking, baking, medicine and, of course, ice cream.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.