General Question

Adina1968's avatar

Are Vanilla Beans & Cocoa Beans from the same plant "family"?

Asked by Adina1968 (2752points) April 14th, 2008

We are having a great debate. Are Vanilla & Cocoa beans from the same plant family? In other words is Vanilla a form of Chocolate or is it completely different?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

2 Answers

gailcalled's avatar

No. Choc. is the cacao bean (from a tree) and vanilla is a pod (weirdly from an orchid)

gailcalled (54644points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
Seesul's avatar

Vanilla is actually from the orchid family.

Cocoa Bean:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Sterculiaceae
Genus: Theobroma
Species: T. cacao

Vanilla:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Vanilloideae
Tribe: Vanilleae
Subtribe: Vanillinae
Genus: Vanilla (Plumier ex. Mill., 1754)

Seesul (2960points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther