tonka bean

1. A tropical South American tree (Dipteryx odorata) having pulpy, egg-shaped, one-seeded pods and fragrant seeds used as a substitute for vanilla and for flavoring tobacco and candies.
2. The seed of this tree.

[Perhaps from Galibi tonka.]

Seed of the South American tree Dipteryx odorata with a sweet, pungent smell, used like vanilla for flavouring.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree; used in perfumes and medicines and as a substitute for vanilla
  Synonym: coumara nut

Meaning #2: tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavoring
  Synonyms: tonka bean tree, Coumarouna odorata, Dipteryx odorata

Tonka bean
Tonka Beans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Dipterygeae Genus: Dipteryx Species: D. odorata
Binomial name
Dipteryx odorata (Aublet) Willd.

The tonka bean is the seed of Dipteryx odorata, a legume tree in the neotropics, of the Fabaceae family. The seed is black and wrinkled in appearance, with a smooth brown interior. Its fragrance is reminiscent of vanilla, almonds, cinnamon, and cloves. It had been used as a vanilla substitute, as a perfume, and in tobacco before being banned in some countries. Its use in food is banned in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration.^[1] It is featured in some French cuisine, particularly in desserts and stews.

The seed contains the anticoagulant coumarin, which can be lethal in large doses. Many anticoagulant prescription drugs, such as warfarin, are based on coumarin.

The plant has its origin in Northern South America (Guyana, Orinoco region). Main producers today are Venezuela and also Nigeria.

References

1. ^ "2006 CFR Title 21, Volume 3". http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2006/aprqtr/21cfr189.130.htm. Retrieved on 2009-07-06. 

External links

• Spice Pages: Tonka Beans

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