Tonka beans and coumarin - tasty and dangerous?

[@hotpeppersweetieful]

We use this in the Caribbean all the time to make cakes and other baked goods, especially around Christmas time. Absolutely delicious but you only need to use a tiny amount. A single tonka bean can last an entire generation if stored correctly. My mom still has the bean we used in Christmas cakes when I was much younger. Even the variety of cinnamon and 'bay leaves' in the Caribbean is different. The cinnamon bark is thicker and much more flavourful, the bay leaves are much wider and aromatic.

[@thecook8964]

Yum in black cake

[@jeongminjang5946]

Incredible story! Thank you. But why do people use a tiny bit?

[@Realatmx]

​@@jeongminjang5946bcz it doesn't need too much all ingredients has to use as per traditional rules😊

[@wmpetroff2307]

An entire generation? It's no wonder the Mighty Egyptians used Tonka beans as a mumification scent. Wow.

[@aarontcagle]

This video was absolutely spectacular! As one of the only people in this country that grows the trees, and probably the only person that has an entire sleeve of tattoos based on this plant, I know tonka beans! Your info about the FDA was concise and had sources; excellent job. I can tell you as a healthy 32 year old that tonka beans have not hurt my liver in any way, and I have eaten more than I can imagine most of the population will ever. I’m sitting on over 1kg of them in my kitchen right now, haha.

[@aarontcagle]

And as a side note, there are several species that produce “tonka beans” which are all closely related. The genetics work on the Dipteryx genus is weak, and I plan on making it better.

[@FoodieFindings]

@@aarontcagle Awesome to hear, fellow foodie devoted to making unique findings. Keep it up!

[@mairinh84]

Send me some so I can make creams 🥰🥰🥰 my favourite scent

[@noachav]

Do you know whether importation is illegal ? I can't find anything, except on refined coumarin

[@aarontcagle]

@@noachav Importation is not illegal.

[@mollywhoppedsouls_pvp]

Very informative! Good stuff. Perhaps the host could blink once in awhile though🤷‍♂️

[@monaming7658]

Haha😂

[@monaming7658]

Creepy right!!😂😂

[@risinup2778]

We eating Tonka beens fruts all our lives as young kids ,in Trinidad and I'm 67 years old now .

[@SailorMars714]

I'm impressed you took your ASPD in a different direction. Interesting Content and valuable information =)

[@KJ-zb5ec]

This video was spectacular!!! You saved me around 20 hours of research trying to answer the serious question, ""will I poison myself if I order illegal beans from Amazon in the name of cool food". Thank you.

[@msv419]

That's funny 'cause I ordered some two years ago. My reasoning, cool food!

[@sicozu]

Cool video! Just had an amazing chocolate bonbon with tonka bean filling. Hadn't heard of it, so that's how I got to your video. Good content! Thanks :) The not blinking is kinda intense haha, but keep going man!

[@Brown_Water]

ik he some scary ass rapscalleeeon

[@msmelish2001]

Yes i appreciate this video as it is quite pleasing and the information satisfies my level of curiosity, thankyou!

[@lisamareeaccary5132]

For Tonka beans to harm you , you’d have to eat about 30 whole beans and no does that, I’m buying some here in Australia but because I only know about Tonka beans in fragrance, I sort out more info and is how I found this video

[@jaimiejust7365]

I had never heard of Tonka beans until recently when I bought some in Germany. I was shocked to find that they’re illegal food additives in America, so strange! Especially since some of the foods that ARE illegal in America are ILLEGAL in Europe. So weird! I’m eager to try them out in some baking.

[@acemanhomer1]

I've picked up the hobby of perfuming a couple of months ago, and just recently finally got some tonka bean absolute, a 50% dilution. And I am pleasantly surprised at the scent from it. It reminds me of those artificial cherry can car fresheners you put under your seat or whatever, not quite as potent as those, but the scent notes are similar...Vanilla'esk, but that cherry almond extract like scent dominates. In perfumes/colognes, it's a great ingredient, even just small amounts can add a pleasant subtle shift.

[@acemanhomer1]

@kkon7902 Perfumer's Apprentice, based in California

[@acemanhomer1]

@kkon7902 I believe they do, but they do give the forewarning to check your local regions rules on what's allowed to be imported. But I checked on Google and it says the EU DOES allow tonka bean, so..

[@noahblanco6105]

This man really does his research!

[@Moralapostolos]

thank you very much for this informative video! Since I am cooking and mixing a lot, a question that comes to mind is, do you have any informations about any specific herb/spice combination with tonka beans that is really bad and very harmful for consumption? Thx in advance! Greetz from Crete

[@Ucceah]

cumarin is also mildly psychoactive. if you ever try traditional, home made, german may wine, it will send you to places, sweetened white wine would never. it's great 1-2 nights per year. the rest of the time, just uso a wee bit, to make your deserts outstandingly good.

[@auforu]

Did tonka beans remove your ability to blink I wonder ?

[@auntyp2980]

The dog looked scared when you spoke to it😂😂😂

[@SarahBattersby_HappyMedusa]

Great info.

[@colorsmith5569]

THANK YOU!

[@websurfer5772]

I didn't know tonka beans are considered lucky. It just happens to be St. Patrick's Day and I do this thing where I pull out an unknown essential oil sample from a box and try to guess what it is by smelling it. I thought it was some sort of nut but it turned out to be tonka bean which to me smells like artificial almond extract. *Always has to be Lucky Charms* 🧙‍♀🍃

[@kylewilliams8114]

The poison is in the dose! Another example!

[@moomoopuppy508]

Bake Off: Professionals brought me here. Im going to buy some as well. Someone made ice cream with them and said its a similar flavor to Amaretto. I'm just wondering if the essential oil can be used instead of dealing with the beans....like just using a drop of the oil in a milkshake? I just bought some beans myself.

[@websurfer5772]

I would not recommend consuming essential oils as they are extremely concentrated and that could be risky for your liver. Also, never ingest absolute oils as they're only meant for perfumes.

[@thecoffeecleric3045]

Thank you for this video, I was curious about these illegal beans after I watched someone use them as an ingredient.

[@mollywhoppedsouls_pvp]

How to drink?

[@thecoffeecleric3045]

@@mollywhoppedsouls_pvp Yea!

[@websurfer5772]

@@mollywhoppedsouls_pvp The guy in the video just grated some off the bean into his coffee. I'd still advise caution with it.

[@jonipalosaari5443]

Im sure i found my new sleep paralysis demon. That stare is beyond intense.

[@quietrioter]

Hey Alex, you are looking rather stiff in the video. Everything ok bud?

[@FoodieFindings]

Yep, all good. Just still getting the hang of reading off of a teleprompter with good energy and clarity. :) Thanks for following up on what I'm doing these days!

[@quietrioter]

@@FoodieFindings not a problem b0ss. I was actually worried when you disappeared for awhile

[@mairinh84]

Tonka is my favourite scent

[@acemanhomer1]

Yo...you know the cinnamon we commonly use in-home is actually not REAL cinnamon? (I'm sure you knew that being a researcher, I relate..)but yea, it's actually Cassia cinnamon, whereas the REAL cinnamon is call CEYLON cinnamon. I've yet to try the Ceylon, but am interested to taste the difference.

[@FoodieFindings]

I also read that there's less coumarin in Ceylon, so if you're worried about the risk there's another reason to buy the real stuff!

[@jarnobroekhuis3007]

Do you blink ever?

[@JudyBennett-s2c]

Tonka beans give cakes a nice flavour Grenada

[@zac6776]

Good video but please don’t say it would take the same volume for nutmeg to become toxic I’ve heard horror stories from people just eating a few

[@Erenm]

What do you mean? Horror stories from people eating a few tonka beans? Curious to hear more

[@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006]

Nice research, thanks for compiling it in a presentable way. Are there any health benefits or folk medicinal uses associated with this coumarin plant? 2:31 if it's in high concentrations within a popular spice (without it being toxic) then there must be a different reason why it's banned. Like how some other highly potent medicinal plants are banned... Maybe the FDA banned it for a different reason if you catch my drift.

[@Brown_Water]

yea mint weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006 cheers x

[@MysticLoveASMR]

OMG loved ❤ the ending 😂😂😂

[@tradehut2782]

This cinnamon toxicity surprised me.

[@aichalehzam1827]

👍👍

[@gravis00]

Whats with this guys eyes?!?!

[@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006]

dude relax, he was reading from a teleprompter.

[@gravis00]

@@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006 nah he’s got “eat your face” crazy eyes.

[@natashalion8028]

Why doesn't this dude blink, it's a bit scary ? Even the dog looked nervous. I wouldn't go around his for dinner

[@Porterstout]

Creepy non blinker.

[@lisal.5943]

Dude do you even blink?

[@MaliAndDreams]

Sorry, but I can't focus on what you are saying. Your not blinking is just too distracting. I was just watching the video to see you blink xD Kinda creepy :D

[@DawgBird]

brother, please blink

[@Brown_Water]

are u gonna blink pal u shoukd rpoperly eat some tonka beenz