Terre Exotique’s tonka beans bring complex flavours of vanilla, black cherry, almond and tobacco to sweet and savoury dishes. In Guyana, tonka beans are referred to as ‘the lucky bean’ - in order to make a wish, you must hold the small bean in your left hand before throwing it into the river.

Tonka beans grow on the Cumaru tree, and are the seeds of a mango-like fruit. These oblong seeds are dried for a year, then submerged in alcohol for 24 hours. After this process, the beans are dried again, giving them their black and wrinkled appearance.

With aromas of nuts, coffee and caramel, tonka beans give a wonderful warmth and slightly bitter flavour to chocolate desserts, espresso martini cocktails and crème brûlées. We also love adding to savoury souffles. To use, grate a little of the tonka bean into the dish, or as a finishing touch.

Tonka beans contain coumarin, which can be toxic if consumed in high quantities. But when treated with respect and used in moderation in normal cooking, tonka beans are a stunning ingredient that elevate your dishes.

About Terre Exotique

Terre Exotique works directly with hundreds of specialist farmers and producers around the world – to bring the very best peppers, spices and salts to our tables. The company was founded by Erwann de Kerros, a Breton and seasoned traveller. After tasting pepper in the Penja plantation in Cameroon, Kerros yearned to try other specialist peppers and spices – and Terre Exotique was born.

The company works closely with farmers to preserve natural habitats, and to ensure a sustainable income for local communities. Each spice is carefully packed in tins or glass jars – with no plastic. The metal tins preserve the flavours and aroma of your spice, by protecting them from sunlight. So the ingredients stay at their best for longer.

Product formulations and details may change. For the latest ingredients and allergen information always check product packaging prior to consumption. Ingredients: Tonka beans

Storage: Keep at room temperature in a dry place.