Cumaru Tree (Dipteryx odorata)
Scientific Name: Dipteryx odorata — Cumaru, also called Tonka Bean Tree.
Native Home: Amazon rainforest of South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana.
Height: 20–30 m.
Lifespan: Several decades, potentially over 100 years.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Dense, hard wood used for flooring, decking, furniture, and heavy construction.
Harvesting: Mature seed pods are collected for their seeds; timber is harvested where legally permitted.
Age to Harvest: Around 20–30 years for substantial timber, depending on growing conditions.
Products: Tonka beans, fragrance ingredients, flavouring ingredients, flooring, and outdoor decking.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Indigenous communities have used the seeds in traditional preparations and aromatic products.
Global Spread: Native to tropical South America and commercially valued for both its durable timber and aromatic seeds. Tonka bean use in food is restricted or prohibited in some countries because it contains coumarin.
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