Why vanilla ice cream might disappear from the U.K.

Why vanilla ice cream might disappear from the U.K.

A cyclone that damaged a lot of plantations in Madagascar—the largest supplier of vanilla—last March has contributed to increased prices of vanilla in Britain. At around $600 per kilo, vanilla is now the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron. As a result, many British ice cream sellers have stopped selling vanilla. It does not help as well that most vanilla is exported to America and is used not only for ice cream but for other foods, alcohol, cosmetics and perfumes.