Is Tonka Toxic?

Tonka beans contain a chemical compound, coumarin which is toxic when consumed in high quantities. Coumarin is the same chemical that's responsible for the fruity-sweet scent of the tonka seeds. The Food and Drug Administration FDA banned coumarin-containing foods back in 1954.

Can you eat tonka?

Tonka bean is UNSAFE. It can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, sleeplessness, and liver problems. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers any food containing tonka bean or tonka bean extract to be impure.

How much tonka bean is safe?

A single bean contains enough shavings for 80 plates of food, according to The Atlantic, and you need to eat at least 30 tonka beans (or 250 servings, with 1 gram of courmarin) for ill effects to kick in. Then again, the tonka bean is hardly the most dangerous ingredient in the world.