Abade (Sao Tome and Principe) (AFP) – It’s the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron which makes vanilla a lucrative plant to cultivate in Sao Tome and Principe. “I have a large family at home, and thanks to vanilla farming I’m able to provide for our needs,” says one vanilla farmer. The island nation’s warm climate favours the growth of vanilla, whose flavour carries hints of chocolate and reflects its history as a former world leader in cocoa production.
