Vanilla is an orchid
Recently, I read an article on www.bbc.com saying only 1% of the vanilla drinks or food come from real vanilla.
The top 2 countries that supply vanilla are Madagascar and Indonesia.
One reason of vanilla supply limit is that it is an orchid and the plant depends on a few specific types of bees or hummingbirds to pollinate its flowers. And each flower blooms within one day.
Most of the vanilla products are made of synthetic vanilla.
Links:
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_(genus)
- BBC.com: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/madagascar_vanillla