TONKA BEANS ARE NOT JUST BEANS

COMMON NAME: Tonka

LATIN NAME: Dipteryx Odorata

ORIGIN: Tonka is native to tropical Guyana and the northern part of Brazil.

HABITAT: The plant can be found in Central America, in the Caribbean, as well as in the tropical belt of South and Latin America: in Bolivia, throughout Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. Dipteryx Odorata is a cultivated plant. It is actively grown in Venezuela.

BOTANICAL INFORMATION:

Dipteryx Odorata is a species of evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the genus Dipteryx, the subfamily Faboideae, the family of Fabaceae.

The plant is a powerful, tall tree of the genus Dipteryx with large leathery leaves of bright green color and beautiful purple or pink flowers. The tree can reach a height up to 40 m, and in diameter it can be up to 1 m.

The trunk of the tree has a rather beautiful texture that will impress any person with the complex pattern of its fibers. It should be noted that such wood has no visible annual rings, but it has a distinct smell.

Dipterix fruits are single-seeded pods that are 3 to 6 cm long and 1 cm wide. Each of the fruits contains one wrinkled seed of dark purple color. These seeds have an attractive fragrance that can completely replace vanilla, cloves, almonds and even cinnamon. This aroma is warm, sweet and has shades of caramel and prunes.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION:

Tonka beans composed of essential oil, coumarin, 3,4-dihydrocoumarin (and other derivatives), starch, gum, oleic, palmitic and other fatty acids, sitosterol and stigmasterol.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

There are contraindications, which include serious cardiovascular diseases, reduced blood clotting, idiosyncrasy, allergic reactions.

Should not be consumed during pregnancy and breast-feeding period.

HISTORY:

Since ancient times, the people of South America have attributed magical and healing powers to the plant. Amulets made of Dipteryx Odorata brought luck, fulfilled desires and protected from diseases.

At present, Venezuela is the main collector and exporter of Dipteryx. Most of the harvest goes to the United States.

Tonka beans owe their name to the appearance of beans. Despite the fact that this type of plant was classified into the Legumes family, its seeds are not directly related to them: Dipterix has only one fruit that contains only one black and shriveled seed.

*Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult with your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.