Amazon Tonka Beans

What is the Tonka Bean ?

The Tonka bean is the seed contained in the fruit of the Dyptérix Odorata, a tree that can grow up to 30 meters high. It is also known as coumarou, coumaron or coumarin.

Once ripe, the fruit falls from the top of the canopy to the ground and is picked up and dried. When the fruit, which looks like a small mango, is opened, ebony-coloured beans are revealed.

Did you know? The main aromatic molecule of the Tonka bean, coumarin, when saturated with essential oils, crystallizes on the surface, a sign of excellent quality (frosted Tonka bean).

Harvesting Amazonian Tonka Beans

The Dipteryx Odorata is an emergent tree (which exceeds the other trees) that is also called the Brazilian teak. It can reach up to 30 meters.

The tonka bean tree needs a well drained soil and a tropical climate. It blooms from March to May. Harvesting takes place from June to September depending on the region. The whole maturing process lasts one year. The bean is black in colour.

To harvest the bean, which in Brazil is called "Cumaru", the shell must be broken. A good quality tonka bean is about 3 cm long and 1 cm wide.

David Vanille's choice: What makes the difference between the Brazilian Tonka Beans I offer and the others? These Tonka beans were imported directly from the Amazon (via Sao Paulo). I asked my collector to select only the rarest quality, the largest beans, ebony in colour. They develop aromas of caramel, vanilla and coffee

My goal: to offer you a quality that cannot be found elsewhere in stores or on the Internet

The origins of the tonka bean

The tonka bean originates from Latin America. We find the first written traces of its name in 1775. It was a French scientist, Jean-Baptiste Aublet, who introduced it to Mauritius by planting a Brazilian teak tree.

In the 19th century, Alexander Von Humbold discovered the tonka bean in an original way. During a trip to Venezuela, he was amazed by the pleasant smell of freshly washed laundry. The natives told him their secret: the tonka bean.

Long neglected in our kitchens, the tonka bean was mainly used in pastries. Today, it has become a bewitching spice and has seduced the greatest chefs.

The tonka bean nowadays

The production of the tonka bean is strongly dependent on the climate. Currently, it varies between 60 and 100 tons per year. One tree can produce about 15 kilos of beans per year.

Did you know that? Coumarinis produced from the tonka bean in the form of crystals during the drying process.

Other uses

The tonka bean is not only used in cooking. It contains a substance, coumarin, which is one of the essential components in the manufacture of certain perfumes and cosmetics. Some tobacco manufacturers also use it to perfume their tobacco. The tonka bean is also used to perfume the linen by slipping small bags of beans in the linen room.

The tonka bean is also considered as a good luck charm by the Amazonian Indians.

Did you know that? Guerlinade, the perfume created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921, contains tonka bean, which gives it its rich olfactory sweet and gourmand notes.

How to use the tonka bean in cooking?

If the Brazilian Tonka Bean has an aromatic palette oriented towards sweet and sensual notes that spontaneously make us think of delicious sweet desserts, you can also use it in many savoury recipes.

You can use it in all recipes requiring the use of vanilla. As far as its dosage is concerned, you will have to be sparing with the Brazilian Tonka Bean, as its aromatic power will be further strengthened when your preparation is cooled. In this respect, it can be said that Brazilian Tonka Bean is undeniably an economical spice!

Tip: Play with the low temperature maceration of your Tonka Beans. You'll work miracles!

Our recipe ideas with tonka bean

Would you like to discover the soft and sweet aromas of the tonka bean in your kitchen? Here are some culinary ideas that should please you!

The starter: Carpaccio of scallops

A light starter that respects the product! The tonka bean brings an aroma of almond and vanilla. Slice your scallops thinly, add salt and pepper and grate a little tonka bean. A delight!

The dish: Duck breast with pepper and tonka sauce

A rustic dish that is softened with a few pieces of tonka beans. Slice in the fat of the duck breast. Make a slit along the length of your duck breast without cutting it completely in half. Insert some well-seasoned semi-cooked foie gras. Cook the duck breast on the skin side over high heat. Once cooked, grate some tonka beans into the meat juice. Add a few black pepper berries. Let it thicken. Coat your duck breast with the sauce. Serve with a few small roasted potatoes.

Dessert: Brochette of grilled exotic fruits and tonka beans

Pineapple, mango, peaches... here, the fruit is eaten hot. Cut them into squares and stick them on a skewer. Grill them over a high heat. They must remain firm. Add some grated tonka beans once the grilling is over. It will bring a gourmet note to this light dessert.

How to store the tonka bean?

The tonka bean should be kept in an airtight container, preferably a jar. It must be kept dry, away from heat and light. It can be grated like a nut meg and, once started, can be put back in its container.