Vanilla is a climbing orchid vine that grows best in warm, humid tropical climates with temperatures between 21–32°C and well-distributed rainfall. The plant produces elongated, greenish-yellow flowers, which require careful hand pollination as natural pollinators are rare outside their native range. The vanilla bean is the long, slender fruit pod that matures over six to nine months after flowering and is harvested green before undergoing a curing process to develop its characteristic rich, dark-brown color and intense aroma.