How Vanilla Became Shorthand for Bland

Be vanilla • 2013 (1 minute read)
The term “vanilla” is often used to describe something ordinary, plain, or standard. In my book, there’s nothing less vanilla than vanilla.
Vanilla beans are the fruit of a rare orchid native to Mexico. Their aroma and flavor comes from a compound called... See more
So, how to wrap my arms around this term in a way that captures its spirit without flattening it?