Tonka Bean
🌿 spicesEasy to use

Tonka Bean

Native to Venezuela and Brazil; used for centuries in indigenous South American traditions and European perfumery.Year-round.Intensely aromatic, vanilla-like, almond and hay notes with warm sweetness and floral complexity.

Did You Know?

Tonka beans are banned in the United States as a food ingredient due to high coumarin content, but widely used in Europe.

Overview

Native to Venezuela and Brazil; used for centuries in indigenous South American traditions and European perfumery. · Year-round. · spices

A Venezuelan seed with an intense vanillin, almond, and coumarin aroma used as a luxury flavoring in fine pastry.

Native to Venezuela and Brazil; used for centuries in indigenous South American traditions and European perfumery.

Origin

Year-round.

Season

Easy

Difficulty

spices

Category

Flavor Profile

Intensely aromaticvanilla-likealmond and hay notes with warm sweetness and floral complexity.

Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container away from light; keeps for years.

Photo Gallery

How to Cook with Tonka Bean

Recipes, pairings, substitutes, and professional tips

Cooking Tips

Grate on a microplane directly into cream, chocolate, or custard. Use very sparingly — 1/8 bean per serving.

Best Pairings

chocolatecreamcustardpearscoffee

Substitutes

Vanilla bean, almond extract, or a combination of vanilla and almond.

Nutrition & Health Benefits

The nutritional profile and health properties of Tonka Bean

Nutrition Highlights

fat

12

carbs

45

fiber

8

protein

10

serving

100g

calories

350

Quick Facts

Categoryspices
OriginNative to Venezuela and Brazil; used for centuries in indigenous South American traditions and European perfumery.
SeasonYear-round.
DifficultyEasy

Health Benefits

Contains coumarin with anticoagulant properties; use in very small amounts only.

Tonka Bean Photos

3 photos showcasing Tonka Bean in its many forms

3
🌿

Tonka Bean

spices

OriginNative to Venezuela and Brazil; used for centuries in indigenous South American traditions and European perfumery.
SeasonYear-round.
DifficultyEasy

Flavor Notes

Intensely aromaticvanilla-likealmond and hay notes with warm sweetness and floral complexity.

Pairs Well With

chocolatecreamcustardpearscoffee

Explore More Ingredients

Discover the stories, origins, and culinary secrets behind the world's most fascinating ingredients.