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 reach 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 collected and dried. When opening the fruit, which looks like a small mango, one discovers ebony colored beans.

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).

The harvest of the Amazon Tonka Beans

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

The tonka bean tree needs a well drained soil and a tropical climate. It is in bloom from March to May. The harvest extends from June to September depending on the region. The whole maturing process lasts one year. The bean is black in color.

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? I asked my collector to select only the rarest quality, the largest beans, ebony color. 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 is native to Latin America. We find the first written traces of its name in 1775. It is a French scientist, Jean-Baptiste Aublet who introduced it to Mauritius by planting a Brazilian teak.

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 seduces 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. A tree can produce about 15 kilos of beans per year.

Did you know? coumarinis produced from the tonka bean in the form of crystals during the drying of the beans.

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.

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

Did you know? guerlinade, the perfume created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921, contains tonka bean, which gives it its rich olfactory notes of sweetness and gourmandise.

How to use the tonka bean in cooking?

If the Tonka Bean from Brazil presents 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 savory recipes.

You can use it in all recipes requiring the use of vanilla. Regarding its dosage, it will be necessary to be sparing with the Tonka Bean of Brazil, because its aromatic power will be reinforced during the cooling of your preparation. In this, we can say that the Brazilian Tonka Bean is undoubtedly an economical spice!

Tip: Play with the low temperature maceration of your Tonka Beans. You will do 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. Thinly slice your scallops, 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 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: Grilled exotic fruit skewer with tonka beans

Pineapple, mango, peaches... here, fruit is eaten hot. Cut them into squares and stick them on a skewer. Grill them over high heat. They must remain firm. Add some grated tonka beans once the grilling is finished. 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.