Editing Vanillin (section)

== Natural history ==
Although it is generally accepted that vanilla was domesticated in [[Mesoamerica]] and subsequently spread to the [[Old World]] in the 16th century, in 2019, researchers published a [[Academic paper|paper]] stating that vanillin residue had been discovered inside jars within a tomb in [[Israel]] dating to the 2nd millennium BCE, suggesting the possible cultivation of an unidentified, Old World-endemic ''[[Vanilla (genus)|Vanilla]]'' species in [[Canaan]] since the Middle [[Bronze Age]].<ref>{{Cite journal | url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X18307557 | title=First evidence for vanillin in the old world: Its use as mortuary offering in Middle Bronze Canaan | journal=Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports | date=June 2019 | last1 = Linares | first1 = V. | last2 = Adams | first2 = M.&nbsp;J. | last3 = Cradic | first3 = M.&nbsp;S. | last4 = Finkelstein | first4 = I. | last5 = Lipschits | first5 = O. | last6 = Martin | first6 = M.&nbsp;A.&nbsp;S.| last7 = Neumann | first7 = R. | last8 = Stockhammer | first8 = P.&nbsp;W. | last9 = Gadot | first9 = Y.| volume=25 | pages=77–84 | doi=10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.03.034 | bibcode=2019JArSR..25...77L | s2cid=181608839 }}</ref><ref name=":0b">{{Cite journal | title=Amir A, Finkelstein I, Shalev Y, Uziel J, Chalaf O, Freud L, et al. (2022) Residue analysis evidence for wine enriched with vanilla consumed in Jerusalem on the eve of the Babylonian destruction in 586 BCE. PLoS ONE 17(3)| year=2022| doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0266085| pmid=35349581| doi-access=free| last1=Amir| first1=A.| last2=Finkelstein| first2=I.| last3=Shalev| first3=Y.| last4=Uziel| first4=J.| last5=Chalaf| first5=O.| last6=Freud| first6=L.| last7=Neumann| first7=R.| last8=Gadot| first8=Y.| journal=PLOS ONE| volume=17| issue=3| pages=e0266085| pmc=8963535}}</ref> Traces of vanillin were also found in wine jars in [[Jerusalem]], which were used by the [[Kingdom of Judah|Judahite]] elite before [[Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)|the city was destroyed]] in 586&nbsp;BCE.<ref name=":0b" />

Vanilla beans, called ''tlilxochitl,'' were discovered and cultivated as a flavoring for beverages by native Mesoamerican peoples, most famously the Totonacs of modern-day [[Veracruz]], Mexico. Since at least the early 15th century, the [[Aztecs]] used vanilla as a flavoring for [[chocolate]] in drinks called ''xocohotl''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MexicanVanilla.com |title=Mexican Vanilla - A History |url=https://mexicanvanilla.com/pages/history-of-vanilla |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=MexicanVanilla.com |language=en}}</ref>