Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Experience the splendor of Puerto Vallarta's rainforest in its divine abundance with a visit to the enchanting Vallarta Botanical Gardens, where everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the annual Rainforest Cacao and Vanilla Celebration.

Through August 31, two globally important plant species, vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) and chocolate (Theobroma cacao) native to the rain forests of Mexico are being celebrated, and the Gardens' Hacienda de Oro Restaurant is serving up a special lunch $260 pesos menu:

Starter: Plantation Salad, baby field greens with mango and cashews topped with balsamic or blue cheese dressing -OR- Chilled Gazpacho with avocado.

Entree: Your choice of Mahi Mahi gourmet Fish Tacos -OR- a traditional Jalisco Birria (Beef stew in a traditional spiced red sauce, served with roasted country potatoes, refried beans and handmade corn tortillas.)

Dessert: Vanilla Tapioca -OR- Vanilla Ice Cream topped with chocolate sauce

Includes one glass of wine, one house margarita, one beer, or one non alcoholic drink. Our regular menu is also available.

Cocoa Trees at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Chocolate is a product of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) a small evergreen tree native to Mexico's south tropical region. Its seeds are used to make cocoa powder and chocolate.

The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15-30cm long and 8-10cm wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighing about 500 g (1.1 lbs) when ripe.

The pod contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually called "beans," embedded in a white pulp. The seeds are the main ingredient of chocolate, while the pulp is used in some countries to prepare a refreshing juice.

Their most noted active constituent is theobromine, a stimulating compound similar to caffeine.

Vanilla "Beans" at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Culinary vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) was first cultivated by the Totonac people of the Gulf Coast of Mexico in the present-day state of Veracruz. According to Totonac mythology, the tropical vanilla orchid was born from a story of love and tragedy.

When Princess Xanat, forbidden by her father from marrying a mortal, fled to the forest with her lover, the two were captured and beheaded. Where the blood of the princess' lover touched the ground a tree grew and next to it, where the princess' blood touched the ground the vine of the vanilla orchid grew attaching to the tree forever.

Mexico had a near monopoly on vanilla production until 1841 when a 12-year-old child slave living on the French island of Réunion discovered a simple way to hand-pollinate the flower. Because of the labor required to pollinate and cure vanilla, it is the second most expensive spice (after saffron.) Learn more about this incredible plant on your next visit to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Entrance to the Gardens is only $60 pesos per person, free for members, and free for children 10 and under.

Even the drive to the Gardens is part of the delight as you wind your way along the Palms to Pines Scenic Highway admiring the majestic scenery in its full summer brilliance.