Tonka Beans Banned In America

Since 1954, the United States has banned tonka beans as a food ingredient because they contain coumarin, a chemical that can be toxic in high doses. Chefs still prize the beans for a complex flavor that tastes like a mix of vanilla, licorice, caramel, and cloves. In the US, authorities have raided restaurants caught using tonka beans in defiance of the ban. Some chefs have even relied on smugglers to bring the beans into the country so they can use them in their dishes.

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