Vanilla: the legend of the black flower

Of all the times you've had ice cream or a vanilla milkshake, have you ever wondered what vanilla actually is or what it looks like?

Vanilla is one of the most prized climbing orchid species in the world. It gives off an exquisite aroma and an unmistakable flavour that make it an ingredient cherished in gastronomy. In Barcelona and just a few steps away from Baboia you can visit Casa Gispert, one of the city's oldest food companies, which has been selling colonial-era products since 1851: nuts, dried fruits, coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices including vanilla, cinnamon and saffron... The shop's interior has been preserved in its original state as a museum, but the shop is still open for business.