THAT! All AboutVanilla (NAPSA)—Vanilla isn’t just a flavor. It’s also the only edible fruit of the orchid family, a flower with a rich and tasty history dating back hundredsof years. Now available in a diet soft drink, vanilla was once used as currency. In fact, vanilla beans were so prized in Mesoamerican Aztec society that they were occasionally used as money. Their value even led some vanilla growers to tattoo the individual beans before they dried—for easy identification in case of theft. Vanilla beansfirst got shipped to Spain in the 1500s for use in perfume. Only later was it realized that vanilla could also be a flavoring agent. While vanilla is not a fast food—the entire cultivation process, from planting to harvesting, can take up to six years—that doesn’t meanit’s not convenient to get yourself a taste. Vanilla is already the most well-liked ice cream flavor in the U.S., anda new soft drink is bound to cause its popularity to flower even more. Inspired by the recent success of Vanilla Coke, the Coca-Cola Company has introduced Diet Vanilla Coke—a refreshing beverage with the same great vanilla taste, but without any calories. The new drink is available in bottles and cans, whereversodais sold.
