vanilla

Any of a group of climbing orchids native to tropical America but cultivated elsewhere, with large, fragrant white or yellow flowers. The dried and fermented fruit, or podlike capsules, of the species V. planifolia are the source of the vanilla flavouring used in cookery and baking. (Genus Vanilla.)

Annual world production of vanilla pods is estimated at 1,500 tonnes. Vanilla flavouring (vanillin) can now be produced artificially from waste sulphite liquor, a by-product of paper pulp-making.

vanilla

In computing, slang word for any product or service that lacks extra features or enhancements but delivers the basic functionality required. The usage was derived from the ice cream market when Americans were being overwhelmed by the choice of flavours.