Tonka bean oil Tonka bean oil Tonka bean oil is extracted from the seed of "Dipteryx odorata". The oil is composed primarily of coumarin, which is used to flavor tobacco. It is neither a pressed oil, nor an essential oil, but was traditionally obtained by soaking the large, single tonka bean seed in rum or other alcohol for 24 hours, after which crystals of coumarin appear on the outside of the seed, and are then collected. The seeds contain up to 46% oil by dry weight. In recent years, most commercially produced coumarin are synthetic, which has reduced the demand for tonka beans
Vanilla production in French Polynesia production (FAO records for 2013) in French Polynesia (specifically Tahiti) accounted to only about 0.07% of the total world production; it was 60 tons from an area of with an yield of 13 hectograms per ha, comparative to the 3,500 tons yielded by plantations in Madagascar, and 3,400 tons yielded in Indonesia. Some plantations are open to tourists; Maison de la Vanille for instance, near Haamene, permits visitors to view the vanilla preparation and drying processes. The island of Tahaa offers a tour, conducted by a private outfit, that takes visitors to one of the older and more voluminous plantations,