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The Banned Beans Chefs Still Secretly Sneak Onto Menus By Ben Hillin Sept. 1, 2025 6:00 am EST

Can banning something make it more delicious, or more tantalizing? Maybe. The tonka bean has been banned in the U.S. since 1954, but it remains a sought-after ingredient thanks to its description as the best tasting thing anyone could ever consume. There's just one problem: if you eat too many, they'll kill you. Though this isn't exactly a unique feature of tonka beans, considering the many ways your food can kill you .

Tonka beans contain coumarin, an organic compound that's actually found in tons of plants; including lavender and commonly used cinnamon powders. At high enough concentrations, and with prolonged, consistent exposure, it can cause liver and heart

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