What are Madagascar beans?

Madagascar beans can potentially refer to two very different types of food products. When using simply as "beans Madagascar", it usually refers to the type of Lima bean, which is often grown in tropical areas and is used to prepare a number of different meals. It can also be used to indicate vanilla beans of Madagascar, which are used to produce more than half of vanilla consumed worldwide. Madagascar beans are quite tasty in both contexts and both are usually grown as a vine along lattice, trees or other support structures. Also known as phaseolus lunatus , Madagascar beans grow as permanent grapes and can usually grow along the support structure. This usually consists of grids that provide vines, but will not prevent sunlight or water from reaching the plant.

While still green, these Madagascar beans can beharvest and enjoy raw or slightly steamed. The pods should not be eaten, but the beans inside are green, tender and slightly creamy. They can also be allowed to dry on the vines. When they do, they become dark red with white spots. These dried beans are usually ideal for storage, either at a room temperature or freezing, and can be used in soups, stews and other meals that require dried beans.

The second type of Madagascar beans are often Madagascar vanilla beans, which are sweet and used in everything from desserts and pastries to fragrant candles and body water. Although originally from Mexico and similar regions, the most popular diversity of vanilla, vanilla planifolia , is now grown and harvested in Madagascar. In fact, it is a type of orchid and fruit or beans that is harvested to produce raw vanilla beans or vanilla extract.

These Madagascar beans usually come in raw state asA long, thin pod that was dried for easier transport and use. For the use of raw vanilla, the pad should be divided by a sharp knife. Small vanilla beans inside can be scraped and used in cooking. They usually appear as small black spots in a finished bowl and are quite noticeable in vanilla ice cream that uses real vanilla beans. Liquid vanilla extract can also be easily produced by soaking pods in ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, for some time, then stress of liquid.