TONKA, or Tonqua, BEAN

the dark, aromatic, seed of the fruit of Coumarouna odorato, a South American tree. The essential principle, known as Counmarin, is a white substance found in small crystals under the coat and between the lobes. Because of a similarity in aroma, Tonka Beans, or the extracted counmarin, are frequently employed in the manufacture of low grade or imitation vanilla extract. They are, though, heavier and coarser in flavor and their commercial value is less than a tenth of that of even minor grade vanilla beans. Their legitimate uses include the perfuming and flavoring of smoking and chewing tobacco. Placed in wardrobes and trunks, they impart a pleasing odor and preserve clothes from moths. Coumarin its also found in Woodruff, Sweet Clover and several other plants and is manufacture synthetically in considerable quantities.