A runaway priestess. A dedicated prince. A passionate and vibrant encounter in the forest. Two worlds connected by forbidden love. A connection beyond death.
An emerald-green vine sprouted from the ground, where the two lovers were laid to rest. Delicate and strong, its tendrils wrapped like an embrace.
Deemed the “nectar of the gods” and “the queen of spices”, only vanilla has the power to tame the harshest of flavors and to sweeten the bitter.
Beautiful vanilla. The perfect spice to tame the fierce tequila.
The Totonacos cherished the aromatic and culinary benefits of the vanilla orchid. For them, this orchid played a fundamental role in their daily life, rituals and trade relationships.
When the Totonacapans were conquered by the Aztecs, vanilla was one of the most demanded tributes, as it was used to flavor various foods and drinks, especially chocolate.
Vanilla was also highly valued by the Totonacs because it was part of their worldview, as during harvesting and processing they performed rituals and offerings in gratitude to the Lord of the Mountain, Kiwikgolo.
In the Totonacos language, vanilla is called Xanath ("hidden flower"), in Nánuahtl it is called "Tlilxóchitl" ("black flower").
The Spanish gave it the name “vanilla” because 15-30 cm long fruits resembled a scabbard.