Coumarou

/ˌkuːməˈruː/ noun

Definition

The tonka tree, a large South American tree that produces fragrant beans used to extract coumarin for perfume and flavoring.

Etymology

From Portuguese coumarou or Tupi cumaru, the indigenous name for the tonka tree native to South America, particularly Brazil and Venezuela.

Kelly Says

Tonka beans from the coumarou tree are so fragrant and useful that they were actually worth their weight in gold in 18th-century Europe—colonial traders shipped them across oceans for use in luxury perfumes!

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