Tonka - beans - 1000g (1kg) [V]

Plant description

Tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata) - a species of plant from the Fabaceae family. Tree up to 25-30 meters, with a trunk up to one meter in diameter. It comes from Central America and the northern part of South America. Its seeds are known as tonka beans (also: tonkini beans). Their shells are black and wrinkled, with a smooth brown interior. They have a strong, sweet smell due to their high coumarin content. Each fruit contains one seed.

Properties

The seeds are used in the perfume, confectionery and tobacco industries and as a flavoring additive for beer. It is usually added to dark beers and gives the beer a characteristic aroma. However, coumarin, when consumed in high doses, can cause hemorrhage, liver damage, or heart paralysis, so its concentration in foods is controlled.

Tonka beans are used as a substitute for vanilla in perfumes and tobacco; however, it has been banned in some countries. Still in use, incl. in France (mainly in desserts and stews) and in perfumes.

The use of tonka beans in the food industry is regulated / restricted in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. Many prescription anticoagulants are based on 4-hydroxycoumarin, a chemical derivative of coumarin originally isolated from beans. However, coumarin itself does not have anticoagulant properties.