If you watch MasterChef on UK television, Iām sure you will have heard tonka beans mentioned a few times. These are an exotic ingredient that is moving out of exotic cuisine into more mainstream cooking as it comes into our kitchen cupboards.
What is This Bean And What Do they Taste Of ?
The taste of tonka bean is very distinctive. The beans are about an inch long and remind me of raisins although they seem to have a darker smoky grey look to them. Generally they are wrinkled with a smooth, brown interior. They are the seeds of a flowering tree found in South America rather than the dried fruits of the grape vine.
Commonly used as an alternative to vanilla but with a more vibrant fruity and spicy note. The tonka bean pairs extremely well with chocolate so desserts are the main forum for this ingredient. Sweet fruits such as strawberries and blueberries appear to be good complements. MasterChef showed off a number of puddings and ice creams using the tonka bean.
Where To Purchase
Amazon have a number of sources of this interesting ingredient. The bean is banned in the USA since the 1950s because of their toxicity. It is the case that large amounts of the bean have to be consumed to cause problems. Only small amounts of the bean are ever used in cooking so it really is not an issue in the EU. The bean is shaved to provide the raw flavour.
The Source
The tree, Dipteryx odorata, (Aubl.. Willd.) commonly known as cumaru or kumaru is a member of the pea family or Fabaceae. The tree grows throughout central and south America. The French made the tinka bean popular by incorporating the flavour into their cuisine and also smoking tobacco where it lends a pleasing and warming note.
Toxicity
The bean contains large amounts of coumarin (1-3 per cent) which is also responsible for its pleasing aroma. The amount rarely if ever exceeds 10%. Coumarin has a bitter taste and in large doses causes haemorrhages, liver damage, or paralysis of the heart. Many anticoagulant prescription drugs, such as warfarin, are based on 4-hydroxycoumarin, a chemical derivative of coumarin initially isolated from this bean. Coumarin itself is not an anticoagulant.
Products
Amazon, our affiliate marketing partner offer a wide range of suppliers of this ingredient. Please read our affiliate disclosure. Remember the ingredient is banned in the USA.
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