Tonka Bean
Tonka Bean
Description
Dipteryx odorata? Now if that doesn’t sound like a dinosaur or a spell from Harry Potter... Tonka beans are the seeds of the ‘cumaru’ tree, native to South America. No stranger to controversy, the beans contain a compound known as coumarin, which, in large (very large) doses is said to cause haemorrhages, liver damage and/ or paralysis of the heart (eek). Tonka beans might not be so well known; but the seductive scent of coumarin, for which it is farmed, is quite recognisable. It is often used as a substitute for vanilla, as an additive in perfumes and is even used in tobacco products. Select this intriguing ingredient as a premium infusion to set your blend apart. Its intoxicating smell pairs excellently with vanilla, coffee, cacao nibs, and banana.