Where Does the Tonka Bean Come From

The Dipteryx odorata, mostly found in Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela is a tropical tree that grows 25 to 30 meters tall and roughly one meter wide. The plant needs soil rich in humus and strong sunlight to grow.

Why is the tonka bean banned in the US?

When studies showed that high levels of coumarin, the flavour compound in tonka beans, were leading to hepatotoxicity in dogs and rats (chemical driven liver damage), the FDA chose to outright ban the beans from commercial use.

Is it illegal to buy tonka beans?

Selling tonka beans to eat has been illegal in the US since 1954. … Tonka beans contain unusually high levels of the chemical coumarin, which gives them their flavour and is found naturally in hundreds of plants, including grass, lavender and cherries.