The extraordinary story of Edmond Albius
Edmond Albius, born an orphan and enslaved in Sainte-Suzanne on Reunion Island in 1829, is a little-known but essential figure for all gourmands. Michael Ferrier sums up his destiny in the following words: "This, then, is the story of a slave, a black slave on French soil, who was to change the history of his country and that of the whole world with a single movement of his hands." At the age of 12, Edmond discovered the secret of pollinating vanilla, a plant until then rare and reserved for the elite, as among the Aztecs or in the collections of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England's pharmacist. Initiated by Férréol Bellier Beaumont, his ingenious method multiplied vanilla production, paving the way for accessible and abundant consumption.
Edmond Albius / illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Ambre Troizat - Edmond-Albius-Antoine-Roussin; Vanilla flower Vanille0945s, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39863984
The slave who revolutionized Vanilla
Thanks to Edmond, vanilla, once considered a luxury, was democratized. His discovery in 1841 transformed the cultivation of this spice: from a few kilos in 1845, production climbed to over 200 tons in less than 40 years. Although some, like botanist Richard, stole his thunder, Edmond was championed by the likes of Beaumont and naturalist Eugene Volcy Focard. Freed in 1848 like all slaves in France, when slavery was abolished, Edmond became a French citizen. Having no name because he was a slave, he was given the surname "Albius", which means white in Latin. He died in 1880, a pauper, while his invention made fortunes for others.
Vanilla is a very special orchid / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
All in all, thanks to Edmond Albius, we're all lucky enough to enjoy vanilla, a spice that conquered the whole world when we managed to produce it in large quantities. Reunion Island has kept the tradition of Bourbon vanilla, which takes its name from the island's former name, which was called l "île Bourbon when Edmond Albius made his discovery. Bourbon vanilla is as delicious as ever, and is still grown in the French overseas territories, but now also on nearby Madagascar. So the next time you enjoy a vanilla-scented dessert, think of this young genius who, with a simple wave of his hand, changed history. Thank you, Edmond Albius!
