Gastropod

Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

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Forget Plain Vanilla: You'll Never See The World's Favorite Flavor the Same Way Again

12/2/2025 • 50 min

Today, 'vanilla' often means boring, and yet the edible seedpod of this Central American orchid is one of the most expensive spices in the world, not to mention one of the most popular flavors globally. So how did this coveted bean get such a ho-hum reputation? Listen in this episode as Gastropod travels to vanilla's homeland in the highlands of Veracruz, Mexico… Play episode

From Fountain of Youth to Fruit on the Bottom: How Yoghurt Finally Made it…
Yes, You Really Can Make Food From Thin Air—And We Tried It
Pizza Pizza!
Everything You Know About Metabolism Is Wrong
Durian Delight and Feijoa Fun: Adventures in Banned, Forgotten, and Unusua…
Talking Taco
Tomatoes: A Love Story
The Most Dangerous Fruit in America
The Colorful Tale of Mexico's A-maize-ing Grain
Should You Be Eating Poison Oak?
Ask Gastropod: Bubblegum, Meal Kits, and the Real Truth About Rooibos
Feasting With Montezuma: Food and Farming in a Floating City
Bananageddon! Say Goodbye to *the* Banana, and Hello to the Weird and Wond…
Going Bananas: How a Tropical Treat Became the World's Favorite Fruit
Do We Really Have Beer to Thank for the First Writing and Cities?
Seed Oil Scare: The Curious Case of Canola
Nutrition Advice Decoded: What Foods Are Actually Good For Us, What Should…
The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic
The Shocking True Story of the World's First Seed Bank—And The Scientists …
No Buzz Booze: The History and Science of Going Low- or No-Alcohol
Moon Rocks Wanted (guest episode)
Is My Dentist Scamming Me? (guest episode)
Why Are Kids Dipping Cookies in Ranch, Are Food Comas Real, and What's Ins…
Hacking Taste (encore)
The Curiously Strong Story of Mint
Dishwashing Debates: The Soapy Science Behind Everyone's Favorite Chore
V is for Vitamin (encore)
Bringing Salmon Home: The Story of the World's Largest Dam Removal Project
Potatoes in Space! (encore)
Absinthe: The World's Most Dangerous Drink?
From Trash to Treasure: Why's It So Hard to Save Restaurant Leftovers From…
Smashing Pumpkin Myths: What's Big, Orange, and Having an Identity Crisis?
Meet the Queen of Kiwi: The 96-Year-Old Woman Who Transformed America's Pr…
Deli is Short For Delicious—But Are Your Pastrami and Bologna Sandwiches G…
What's the Buzz on Eating Bugs? Can Insects Really Save the World?
The Billion Dollar War Behind U.S. Rum (Planet Money)
The Interstitium (Radiolab)
Are Hush Puppies Racist? Is A2 Milk Really Healthier? And What's Up With W…
Why Does Everyone Have Food Allergies These Days?
The Bagelization of America (encore)
The Birth of Cool: How Refrigeration Changed Everything
Omega 1-2-3 (encore)
Sugar's Dark Shadow
(Guest) Are Fast Food Jingles Pop Music?
Why Are Restaurants So Loud? Plus the Science Behind the Perfect Playlist
The Food Explorer (encore)
Meet the Most Famous American You’ve Never Heard Of: His Legacy is Excelle…
All You Can Eat: The True Story Behind America's Most Popular Seafood
The World Is Your Oyster: How Our Favorite Shellfish Could Save Coastlines…

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