Vanilla is sweet, aromatic and pleasant. Vanilla is the only member of the orchid family used as a food. Vanilla is sold in different forms: extract and essence, pods (beans), powdered, and vanilla sugar. The vanilla "bean" is actually the dried pod of the unripe fruit. Vanilla is used for a large number of other sweet dishes in Western cuisine; its usage is salty foods is very uncommon. Vanilla is essential for a large number of cookie recipes, for cakes, sweet continental puddings and gruels, and even for milk-based sweet drinks; moreover, dry pastries. Vanilla is also used to enhance the flavor of beverages and sauces.