Tonka Bean

[cookie1]

Tenina mentioned Tonka beans at her class. I have just looked online at Herbie's and he has them.
They are $14.00 for a small packet. I like the sound of them to put a tiny bit on my coffee or Crio Bru.

[jeninwa]

I had a look the other day and there are some on ebay  about $10.00 including postage, just wondering if I really need them.

[Rogizoja]

You can use cinnamon instead of tonka bean - similar taste.

By the way, I've heard tonka beans are banned in the States as they contain coumarine, a blood-thinning agent (though I guess you'd have to eat a couple of kgs to be affected!!)

[andiesenji]

Tonka beans are banned not only in the U.S.    It takes much less than a couple of kg to affect some people. 

The beans vary greatly in how much coumarin they contain and many people are extremely sensitive.

If you take ANY anti-inflammatory medication, aspirin or similar medication  DO NOT USE TONKA BEANS  they enhance the blood thinning activity of these meds and can cause internal bleeding.

They are a cheap substitute for vanilla beans and in my opinion not worth the danger of using them.   

If you use them in foods, don't feed the foods to children and especially not infants who have weaker capillaries anyway and certainly not to elderly people who also have weaker vein and artery walls.

[cookie1]

Tenina told us that they were toxic in large amounts.

Jeninwa how will you get them into Aust? Will it be ok

[RosieB]

There are several places selling Tonka Beans in Australia on the net.  Just Google Tonka Bean..
I am going to check our local organic store to see if they have them on my next visit.
There seems to be a lot of talk about the 'coumarin' that they have in them,  Some say it is bad,  Most say that it is similar to nutmeg.  Ok if you use it sensibly and in small amounts.  Tenina has a recipe for icecream that sound yummo.
If I can get some I am going to try growing it. I love a challenge.  LOL    I have coffee, cocoa and carob growing.

[andiesenji]

If you are determined, good luck with it.  Just be sure and keep them away from children and pets.  Dogs are attracted to the beans and will chew them.  There are lots of warnings on many pet forums when people are going to be traveling in south America with their dogs as the trees grow wild and are also used as landscape/shade trees.  
When my best friend went to Peru, Brazil and Uraguay a few years ago for a series of dogs shows, the literature that was sent with directions and information about the area included a warning about the cumaru tree pods as well as other decorative plants which could be dangerous to dogs and other pets.  

In many parts of Mexico the beans are scattered under furniture and in closed places as rat killer.

Coumarin is toxic and the level varies from bean to bean, some contain much more than others.  It not only causes blood thinning but is also a carcinogen and can cause liver damage in fairly small amounts consumed over a period of time.  
Non-alcoholic liver disease is much higher in Mexico, Central and South America than it is in the U.S. or Canada.  Mexican-Americans from the same family groups, who emigrated to the U.S. before the age of twenty, have a far lower incidence of this disease.  
The UCLA Health Services, School of Public Health (Dr. Flores, Dr. Yee and Dr. Bastani) conducted a 5-year study from 1999 thru 2004 in conjunction with the University of Mexico, Mexico City.  
The FDA did not ban tonka beans on a whim but after several studies showed it caused problems.  

I also like to experiment and have a fairly extensive herb garden.  Years ago I used to grow sweet woodruff but pulled it out when a bulletin was published in the early '90s about some pets becoming ill after chewing on the leaves - in this case it was cats.
It too contains coumarin and woodruff had been a popular inclusion in some herbal teas.  I haven't seen it in any of the U.S. produced herbal concoctions for quite a few years.  I'm sure they are still available in other countries with less strict laws.

I'm sure this is more than anyone wants to know but as they say, "forewarned is forearmed" and while I'm not trying to be an alarmist, you have to remember that, just as with allergens, some people react more strongly to some things.  What might be perfectly safe for you might be dangerous to another.  

[Very Happy Jan]

No Tonka Beans for this household. DH takes Aspirin and we have a dog. Thank Andie

[Wonder]

Fanatastic information Andie and very interesting. It always amazes me just how many ingredients are coming onto the mainstream market, I've never heard of half of these things.

[cookie1]

Thanks Andie. I always find your information helpful and imformative. I wonder if they get rid of pantry moth and cockroaches. I found a cockroach the other day. I hate them. At least it wasn't a biggy like the ones in the north west.

[jeninwa]

I also found this about the Tonka bean
http://www.theage.com.au/national/foodies-go-bonkers-for-toxic-tonka-beans-20090711-dgre.html

[meganjane]

Referring to Adriano Zumbo, mentioned in the article that Jen linked, I think he'll do anything to introduce a new ingredient.
He's all about NEW!! and DIFFERENT!! and EXCITING!!

Did anyone see him on the first Masterchef making that ridiculous tower of macarons? I mean, really, beetroot powder? Come on....

I'm more inclined to go back and look at the ingredients our mothers and grandmothers used and explore those wonderful old recipes than run around trying to buy the very latest new ingredient.

[judydawn]

Yes, they did very well MJ with the limited ingredients at their disposal.

[Halex]

Thanks Ande, i take wharfrin, mmm not a good mix for me, slowly being weened of  to asprin.

H

[thermoheaven]

i tried one of adriano's confrctions with the tonka bean in it and to be honest, it was a lot of hype. vanilla is one of the most delicious flavourings and will never be toppled by the likes of a tonka bean. it's just a gimmick.
if we want to talk about toxicity, nutmeg in large quantities is also toxic, so moderation is the key.