Tonka bean is originally from Brazil, it gives a fragrance with notes of almond, vanilla, caramel and cinnamon. It is an incomparable fruit. Its taste is warm and delicious.
It can be gently infused in milk for pastries, but it can be used on veal like grilled shrimp.
Sale of Tonka Beans from Amazonia directly harvested by the indigenous populations of Amazonia and our producer in Para.
Harvested by the Kayapo Indians in the primary Amazon rainforest, guaranteeing pure, intense aromatic power.
Le Comptoir de Toamasina has its own subsidiary in Brazil (Abaçai) for ethical, direct sourcing without middlemen.
The secret ingredient to replace or complement vanilla, with sumptuous notes of bitter almond, caramel and blond tobacco.
The Brazil Tonka bean from our Comptoir comes directly from the indigenous community of the Amazon. During our ranger expedition, we selected an Amazonian tonka bean from the Kayapo indigenous reserve, at the heart of a strictly protected forest. Buying this wild harvest tonka bean provides a fair income for families while actively protecting the Amazon rainforest. To reach the tribe that harvests this Amazonian beauty, there are no paved roads: only a dirt track where bush planes land, accessible only by 4x4 pickup trucks.
Brazil's tonka bean is ideal for replacing Madagascar vanilla. Our tonka bean grows completely wild. Cumaru are giant trees of the primary Amazon rainforest, and their beans are harvested by the Kayapo directly from the forest floor during the dry season (winter in Brazil, from May to September). Our partner explains that when Kayapo hunters roam the forest, they smell the bark of the trees: their ancient traditional knowledge tells them if the harvest is imminent.
When the time comes, entire families camp for several days in the forest to collect the fallen cumaru fruits, which resemble small mangoes. Back in the village, they crack open the fruit with a hammer to extract the fragrant seed: the tonka bean. The beans are then sun-dried and transported to the tribe's cooperative by canoe or plane. The primary forest offers an incomparable terroir for this seed, giving it exceptional aromatic strength.
At our Comptoir, specializing in the import of tonka beans and acai powder from the Amazon, we offer you the chance to buy the finest tonka bean from Brazil, the true princess of modern pastry.
Our partner Amazonian tonka bean producers: Pedro, David and Celino.
Arnaud takes you to discover the wild Amazonian tonka bean and its producers from the Kayapo tribe.
Where to find guaranteed origin tonka beans? Le Comptoir de Toamasina, through its Brazilian subsidiary Abaçai in Belo Horizonte and our local expedition gear (our Ford Ranger pickup), allows you to buy tonka beans direct from the producer. Working with the native communities of the Amazon was essential for us. No traditional online fine grocery store has its own structure in Brazil to select only the finest, largest tonka beans with 100% guaranteed traceability.
The tonka bean is my second major eco-responsible project in Brazil. What matters here is not just the product — it is how it gets to you. When we decided to work with this indigenous cooperative in early 2020, after an exploration trip in late 2019, covid paralyzed transportation. We had to wait two years, exchange samples, and be patient before importing our first batches.
My desire was to have a partner capable of balancing the demand for this exceptional spice with strict forest preservation. Every project I develop in Brazil takes time: this field work, invisible on the packaging, makes the difference between an anonymous industrial tonka bean and the one you hold in your hands.
"I will protect the cumaruzeiro trees that grow and bear fruit. When I am no longer here, my children, my grandchildren, and my grandchildren's grandchildren will be able to see them grow and harvest their seeds. They will remember that we took care of the spirit of the forest."
Embrapa research in Brazil demonstrates that a wild cumaru tree can live for more than 323 years in the primary Amazon rainforest, compared to less than 40 years in an artificial plantation. Preserving the wild harvest of the Kayapo means preserving these multi-centennial giants of the tropical forest.
Ranger Expedition is Le Comptoir de Toamasina's documentary series retracing our search for the finest Brazilian terroirs. In Brazil, rutted dirt tracks and river crossings demand a sturdy all-terrain vehicle. Aboard our Ford Ranger, we traveled the Trans-Amazonian Highway, Jalapão and the state of Pará under pouring rain to unearth this exceptional tonka bean. Tonka is a culinary crush: it offers an enchanting alternative to the vanilla pod.
An exciting episode of Ranger Expedition, Le Comptoir de Toamasina's documentary series in the heart of wild Brazil.
Learn pastry chefs' secrets to dosing, grating, and pairing Amazonian tonka beans in your sweet and savory dishes.
The tonka bean is a spice of phenomenal power (9/10). Its aroma is so concentrated that it must be dosed with extreme restraint.
Tonka bean brings an almond/vanilla dimension that surpasses the classic crème brûlée.
In Brazil, since acai, cocoa and tonka grow in the same regions, their culinary pairing is completely logical.
Tonka has caramel and cut hay notes that magnify apples, pears and quinces.
It is often forgotten, but tonka bean pairs wonderfully with noble seafood and butter.
An original rum maceration recipe brought back by Arnaud from his travels in Minas Gerais.
Maceration: Let rest for 2 to 3 months in a dark place. Note: taste after one month and remove the tonka bean if its almond aroma becomes too strong, letting the banana and vanilla shine through!
Tonka loves naturally sweet, orange autumn vegetables.
Ran out of vanilla pods for your pancakes? Tonka bean is the ultimate substitute!
A tonka bean is very hard and dry. Because it is used in small amounts by grating, a single bean can serve you for 4 or 5 different recipes!
The Amazonian tonka bean is one of the finest taste discoveries you can make. To explore more pairing ideas with cocoa, vanilla or long pepper, visit Le Comptoir de Toamasina blog. Also find Arnaud Sion's video expeditions and culinary tips on our YouTube channel!
"The little queen of modern pastry — wild tonka bean from the Amazon, harvested by the Kayapo tribe, direct from the producer."
Order My Tonka BeansDipteryx odorata · Amazon, Brazil · Strength 9/10 · From €3.00 · Arnaud Sion Selection
