Not-so-fun fact: 99 percent of vanilian, a compound used to create vanilla's distinct flavor, is synthetic. The process to produce it relies on using fossil fuels or burning wood with acid — which scientists say is both inefficient and polluting.
But a team of scientists in Copenhagen is now close to dishing up what they say could lead to an all-natural scoop of vanilla ice cream. Their discovery involves isolating a compound that's found in all plants, and harnessing enzymes that could make the production of vanilian easier, more efficient and less environmentally costly.
Video by Reuters Plus.