Tonka beans

Tonka Bean

Buy Tonka Bean Online

• Dipteryx odorata
• Origin: Brazil
• Format: whole beans

Tonka Bean: What is it?

The tonka bean, whose scientific name is Dipteryx odorata, represents the fruit of a tree from the legume family that grows in Central America, between Mexico and Venezuela. It is a very particular spice, with a taste and aroma closely resembling a combination of vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. A very fresh scent that makes tonka beans one of the basic components for the composition of excellent perfumes or delicate natural essences.

Origins

The tonka bean has South American origins, in an area between Colombia, the Amazon, Guyana, and the island of Trinidad. In those areas, the seed is called cumaru and comes from the same family as the bean plant, the Fabaceae.

Tonka Bean: Properties and Benefits

Among the properties of tonka beans, we can find the beneficial effects on the respiratory system, often managing to soothe even the most annoying coughs. However, be careful not to abuse it. The high content of coumarin, a substance with anticoagulant effects, could cause pharmacological interactions and health problems.

Tonka Beans in the Kitchen

The use in the kitchen of tonka beans is recent, and they can only be found online on specialized spice websites like ours. They are commercially available dried, whole, and are often grated to be added to the final dish to impart a unique flavor and aroma.

Recipes

The flavor of the beans from the tonka tree is the result of the perfect balance between the more bitter component of nutmeg and the sweeter note associated with vanilla. It is no coincidence that these brown beans are increasingly used in cooking for making desserts, replacing or combining with chocolate, almonds, and cream. Many associate the aroma of tonka beans with almonds, attributing smoky and spicy notes. Tonka beans are excellent for making unique crepes; just grate a bit of the bean's skin to give your dessert a distinctive character and fragrance. Many bartenders also use tonka beans to enhance their drinks, mainly gin and high-quality vodka, but also whisky and cognac. In South America, the seeds are processed into a paste added to milk to make a sweet beverage.

Taste of Tonka Beans

The tonka bean is characterized not only by a rich and enveloping aroma, similar to vanilla, but also by a taste very similar to that of almonds, with spicy, sweet, and bitter nuances. The flavor of the beans from the Tonka tree is the result of the perfect balance between the more bitter component of nutmeg and the sweeter note associated with vanilla. This flavor is due to the presence of an aromatic organic compound, coumarin, which is also found in smaller quantities in other products like lavender, cinnamon, and strawberries.

Tonka Bean: Contraindications

The contraindications and side effects due to excessive consumption of tonka beans are due to the presence of coumarin inside the seeds. Tonka beans can contain up to 10% of this substance, which if excessively consumed could cause serious damage to the liver and lead to bleeding and cancer. Like alcohol, its effects may manifest after years. It is therefore not recommended for use by individuals with blood clotting disorders and those on anticoagulant medication.

Lethal Dosage of Toxic Tonka Bean

Due to the presence of coumarin inside the tonka bean, an excessive dosage could be lethal due to its anticoagulant effects. A lethal dose is equivalent to consuming about 20/25 tonka beans, which is about 5,500 kcal. Although such consumption seems unlikely from any individual, in 1954, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the Tonka bean throughout the USA.

Where to Buy Tonka Bean

If you are looking for the highest quality tonka beans, Terza Luna's online store, specializing in spices and herbal teas, is the answer for you! You can purchase the best quality tonka bean at an exceptional price.

Prices

In our online store, you can buy tonka beans in different sizes, to meet every need, at affordable prices.

• 50g size for the price of 5.50€
• 100g size for the price of 12.00€
• 250g size for the price of 27.00€