1. Tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavouring
   "Tonka beans were used to flavour the artisanal ice cream"; "tonka bean trees were used to flavour the artisanal ice cream";
   - tonka bean tree, Coumarouna odorata, Dipteryx odorata
    
2. Fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree; used in perfumes and medicines and as a substitute for vanilla
   "The tonka bean added a rich, vanilla-like flavour to the dessert";
   - coumara nut

Derived forms: tonka beans

Type of: bean, bean tree

Part of: Coumarouna, Dipteryx, genus Coumarouna, genus Dipteryx

Encyclopedia: Tonka bean