What are old Tonka toys worth?

Most Tonka trucks in good condition from the late ’40s through the early ’60s can be purchased for between $100 and $300. Because so many Tonka products were manufactured, standard outlets including flea markets, garage sales and antique stores are good sources for Tonka trucks.

Why is Mexican vanilla illegal?

31 (HealthDay News) — So-called Mexican “vanilla” is often made with a toxic substance called coumarin and shouldn’t be bought by consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned this week. Since 1954, coumarin has been banned from all food products sold in the United States.

How much tonka bean is dangerous?

At least 30 entire tonka beans (250 servings, or 1 gram of coumarin total) would need to be eaten to approach levels reported as toxic—about the same volume at which nutmeg and other everyday spices are toxic.

What is tonka bean good for?

Despite serious safety concerns, people take tonka bean as a tonic; to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac); and to treat cramps, nausea, cough, spasms, tuberculosis, wasting due to chronic disease, swelling caused by a blockage in the lymph system (lymphedema), and a parasitic disease called schistosomiasis.

What is the smell of tonka bean?

This edible, shrivelled black bean has a sweet aroma that is often likened to almond or vanilla, with undertones of tobacco that can lend a creamy, warm element to a fragrance composition.

What can I use instead of tonka bean?

If you need a replacement for tonka beans in cooking, then your best choice is a combination of vanilla bean and mahlab. Other options to consider are vanilla and almond extract, maple syrup, or kirsch.

Is tonka bean safe in candles?

The United States Is The Largest Importer of Tonka Beans Although legally banned in the United States since 1954, it is perfectly legal to add coumarin to tobacco and cosmetics.

Does tonka bean smell like vanilla?

The tonka bean has a long history in the world of perfume. Used since the 19th century, it is now one of the most common ingredients in perfumery. Known and praised for its warm, sweet qualities, it has a vanilla-like characteristic that is reminiscent of almond, cinnamon and cloves.

Are tonka beans toxic?

The reason for the consumption ban: the bean contains high levels of a chemical called coumarin. This chemical was first isolated from tonka beans in 1820 , and studies have shown that it causes damage to the liver and could cause death. For example, 5g of coumarin could kill a sheep.

Does Tonka smell like vanilla?

Tonka bean has a sweet/spicy fragrance that is reminiscent of vanilla and almond. In oriental fragrances, tonka bean displays a honeyed facet, with fruity undertones.