Introduction of vanilla to America

Thomas Jefferson was fond of vanilla and he was credited with introducing and helping popularize vanilla in America.

Before being elected as president in 1800, Jefferson served as minster to France from 1785 to 1789. He certainly would have enjoyed vanilla-scented luxuries while in Europe.

Finding no word of vanilla in United States and he then ordering fifty vanilla pods shipped from France to the United States.

The Library of Congress has preserved an ice cream recipe from Jefferson’s documents.  Jefferson reportedly created this recipe himself and he enjoyed vanilla ice cream at his home in Virginia.

Currently United States of America is the largest importer of vanilla in the world followed by France and West Germany.
Introduction of vanilla to America