Vanilla, the most basic flavour of ice-creams that is loved by one and all. In a variety of ice cream flavours that are available in the market, vanilla remains the traditional flavour at our disposal. Not just the ice-creams, it is also used in a variety of flavoured desserts. But not anymore! Some independent retailers have already taken it off the menu, especially the ice-creams. There is an appalling shortage of the of the main spice, and the prices have thus skyrocketed. The prices have risen so much that it costs more than silver! The spice costs £400 a kilo at the wholesale rate. Thus, the summers are going to be disappointing as the flavour is disappearing from the menu.

What is causing Vanilla shortage?

Around 85% of the world's supply of Vanilla comes from the fields in Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. The production of the spice has suffered terribly, more since last year's cyclone in the area. The Cyclone Enawo left almost one-third of the vanilla plantations damaged. The area also saw political unrest and resulting riots which further sent the prices of the crop high.

The plant of vanilla is anyway hard to cultivate and takes nearly four years for the crop to grow and mature. It has caused less production and more shortage. Plus farmers have to deal with robbers and gangsters who steal the crops. All of these have created the prices of the vanilla pods have to rise about ten folds in last five years. The food producers globally are thus struggling to get the flavour at an affordable price.

The once thought primary flavour is now in a crisis, and at least every small shop in the UK has stopped selling it. People are finding it hard to believe that the ice-cream shops no more are offering the vanilla flavour on the menu. It also affects other products which use vanilla within. With the shortage and price rise becoming so evident, the crisis only seems to grow more prominent in years to come, and we will soon have to bid goodbye to the most-loved flavour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 10:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).