Vanilla ?

[Veta]

I understand that vanilla stands for unmodified version of a game , but where did the term originate from ? and why vanilla and not chocolate .
I turned to google but there where only explanations of what it means and not where it derived from .

My only guess and a poor one at that , is the fact that vanilla is white and white represents purity and unspoiled(ness^?) .

[Ark of Truth]

It is from vanilla ice cream.

 

This is because vanilla is made to a standard and is considered a the most popular or one of the most common flavours of ice cream. Vanilla ice cream was also the first flavour which was sold publicly which everyone agreed on that they liked.

 

The first flavour of ice cream is still undetermined.

[gregathit]

Used as an adjective vanilla has come to signify "plain".

 

As to the first ice cream flavors.....as Ark stated it is not known, but fruit and some type of sweetener (honey or the like) appears to be a strong front runner:

http://icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com/index.php/2009/11/02/ask-ernie-what-was-the-first-flavor-ever/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodicecream.html

 

The first recipes for what we have come to know as modern Ice Cream started showing up in the 18th-century.

[Astaroth-Lite]

The odd thing in this terminology is that vanilla, the actual stuff, is a very exotic and rare plant.

 

The kind of "vanilla" they use to flavor ice cream is actually made from tree bark.

[Ark of Truth]

The odd thing in this terminology is that vanilla, the actual stuff, is a very exotic and rare plant.

 

The kind of "vanilla" they use to flavor ice cream is actually made from tree bark.

 

It's Vanilla essence which is most commonly used.

 

Vanilla extract is no longer rare as it can now be grown in plantations. 

[gregathit]

Notice that I said the word "plain".  That doesn't have anything to with cost or availability and in modding terms "vanilla" (or "plain") simply boils down to "unedited."

 

However you are correct in that "pure vanilla" is indeed not "common".  Imitation vanilla is what is common.