Tonka bean seed, Dipteryx or fragrant, Tonka beans, Almendrillo Negro, Coumarouna odorata, Cumaru, (Dipteryx odorata). ID: 617-79

Tonka bean is a tree. Fruit and seed are used to make medicines.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take tonka bean as a tonic. to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac). and for the treatment of cramps, nausea, cough, convulsions, tuberculosis, loss due to chronic disease, swelling caused by obstruction of the lymphatic system (lymphedema) and a parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. < / span>

Some people apply tonka bean directly to the affected area for mouth ulcers, earaches and sore throats.

In industry, coumarin, one of the active ingredients in tonka bean, is used as a flavoring and fragrance in various food, beverage, tobacco, soap and cosmetic products.

In food, seeds are used in cocktails, for example, you can drink it in a coffee cocktail with Clementine infusion.

A great alternative to ingredients such as vanilla, cinnamon, almond extract or nutmeg, tonka beans appear in restaurant menus and slowly enter the cookbook at home.

We can put it in ice creams, such as tonka ice cream and cherry.

Some ideas to get you started:

Simple syrup:

Use equal parts of water and sugar, heat in a saucepan with a tonka bean until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and drain into a bottle. Use in cocktails or morning coffee.

Whipped cream:

Before the cream, place a tonka bean in a container of cream and leave it in the fridge for at least six hours to infuse the flavor.

Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie:

Beans can also be grated in the same way as fresh nutmeg. Use about a teaspoon or two of tonka bean for a fresh, delicious taste.

Squash soup:

People seem to avoid using ingredients that are commonly associated with dessert (ie cinnamon, cloves, etc.) in savory applications. Just as pumpkin pie stuffing loves its aromatic spices, so does a grilled squash soup. Put a bean directly in the pot for about 30 minutes to fill it to taste.

Caramel sauce:

Making homemade caramel sauce is very easy, so once you make a batch and cool a bit, add a bean and let the magic happen.

Tonka bean caramel sauce :

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Prepares: 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 tonka bean

Instructions:

1. When working in batches, sprinkle a thin layer of sugar in a large saucepan and place over medium-high heat.

2. Once the sugar layer has turned into transparent beads, sprinkle a little more sugar on top. After repeating it several times, you will see that the sugar becomes more and more fluid.

3. Once you have melted enough sugar to cover the bottom of the pot, slowly add the rest of the sugar to the pan and as it heats up, it will start to get a darker color.

4. Then pour the cream into the pan while stirring. The mixture will swell slightly. Once lowered, remove from the heat and add the butter. Stir until incorporated and add the tonka bean.

5. Once cool, remove the tonka bean.

Store in a container or jar for use.

Side effects:

Tonka beans are considered safe but can cause some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, insomnia. Hepatic impairment is recommended.