What Cinnamon is the best?
“It’s the best of both worlds,” says Singer. Fans of the cinnamon roll and chili pairing might also enjoy Cincinnati-style chili, which features a distinct blend of spices, including cinnamon. Photo by Goran Kosanovic for the Washington Post via ...
What is the best brand of cinnamon?
Best Ground Cinnamon. For ground cinnamon, we love Cinnamon Vogue organic cinnamon. Imported from Sri Lanka, this cinnamon is certified organic, packaged in BPA-free pouches, and unlike many other brands is non-irradiated. The Cancer Prevention Coalition writes that irradiating spices can be used as a technique to "mask filthy conditions" of ...
What is the best form of cinnamon?
When to Use Ground, Cracked and Cinnamon Sticks
- Ground Cinnamon. This is likely the form of cinnamon you’ve got in your spice rack at home, and it’s definitely the most frequently used for bakers.
- Cracked Cinnamon. Cracked cinnamon is fragmented pieces of cinnamon sticks. ...
- Cinnamon Sticks. Cinnamon sticks last longer than their ground counterparts. ...
What is the healthiest cinnamon to buy?
What to Look for in Cinnamon
- Variety. Of the four types of cinnamon, Ceylon and cassia are the two most widely available. ...
- Quality. All cinnamon is not created equally. If you’re using cinnamon mainly for baking, cassia cinnamon is a safe choice.
- Type. Culinary cinnamon is available in many different forms: whole (stick), ground, and liquid. ...
Is organic cinnamon real cinnamon?
KEY FEATURES: Simply Organic Ground Ceylon Cinnamon is potent, “true” cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum). It has a more complex, and yet more delicate, flavor profile than the more common cassia cinnamon.
Is Organic cinnamon the same as Ceylon cinnamon?
Simply Organic Ceylon Cinnamon is Organically sourced from the bark of evergreen trees from Sri Lanka. Cinnamon's sweet, spicy and warm fragrance adds pungent sweetness to your favorite baked goodies. Though often used interchangeably, cassia and cinnamon are not the same.
Should you buy organic cinnamon?
Yes! Organically grown spices are better much than spices that are grown with chemicals and pesticides. Organic spices are grown without chemicals and preservatives and are not fumigated or irradiated.
Is organic cinnamon healthy?
At the end of the day, cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet. It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits. Just make sure to get Ceylon cinnamon or stick to small doses if you're using the Cassia variety.
Which type of cinnamon is healthiest?
Ceylon cinnamon contains all of the health-promoting properties of cinnamon with none of the toxic properties, which is why it's the healthiest type of cinnamon.
How do I know if my cinnamon is Ceylon?
When it comes to colour, Ceylon Cinnamon is tan brown whereas Cassia Cinnamon takes some reddish dark brown. As far as the texture or the feel is concerned, Ceylon Cinnamon is thin and papery and forms multiple layers when rolled up.
Which type of cinnamon is best?
Both Ceylon and cassia are healthy and delicious. However, if you intend to consume large amounts of this spice or take a supplement, cassia can be harmful because of the coumarin content. At the end of the day, Ceylon cinnamon is better quality and much safer.
How can you tell if cinnamon is real?
Look for true cinnamon to be more tan-brown in color, as opposed to the reddish-brown hue of cassia. And if you open the package and find a smell that's not exactly pungent, that's a good thing. True cinnamon is delicate and sweet, creating a subtle flavor while not overpowering the rest of your ingredients.
What is the difference between cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon?
Cinnamomum verum, also called true cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon, is a more expensive and difficult to find cinnamon variety. Ceylon has a lighter, sweeter flavour than Cassia. Historically, Ceylon was more common in Europe and North America, but changing trade systems have shifted favour to Cassia cinnamon.
What does cinnamon do to a woman?
Like other herbs with warming properties such as ginger, cloves and nutmeg, cinnamon increases blood flow and raises body temperature. Just a small amount of cinnamon oil rubbed onto the nether regions is said to act as a powerful sexual stimulant.
Does cinnamon burn belly fat?
If you want to lose some weight, especially around your tummy, start adding cinnamon to your diet. Why? It suppresses appetite, regulates blood sugar levels, lowers your cholesterol and speeds up your metabolism, in addition to torching belly fat.
What is a safe amount of cinnamon to consume daily?
1 teaspoonCinnamon contains numerous other plant compounds that may have adverse effects when consumed in high amounts. Use all cinnamon sparingly as a spice. Summary Adults should avoid eating more than 1 teaspoon of Cassia cinnamon per day. Children may tolerate even less.
Add this versatile spice to both sweet and savory dishes
Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread.
Best Organic: Frontier Co-op Ground Ceylon Cinnamon
Another Ceylon cinnamon worth considering is the Frontier Co-op Ground Ceylon Cinnamon. Not only is this cinnamon organic, but it’s non-irradiated and Fair Trade certified, which means that you're supporting farming families and fair wages through the purchase of this product.
Best Basic: McCormick Ground Cinnamon
McCormick is a trusted name in the food industry and their company has been around for more than 125 years, so this is the cinnamon that you’re probably most familiar with. Because their ground cinnamon is classified as cinnamon cassia the flavor profile will be much stronger and sweeter than Ceylon cinnamon.
Best Cinnamon Sticks: Frontier Co-op Organic Cinnamon Sticks
Fragrant, warm, and deliciously spicy, Frontier Organic Whole Cinnamon Sticks are a great item to keep stocked in your kitchen. These cinnamon sticks, also called quills, offer a more robust and rich flavor compared to powdered cinnamon and will last much longer.
Best for Beverages: Feel Good Organics Korintje Cinnamon Sticks
Warm beverages garnished or sweetened with cinnamon offer a pleasant alternative to tea that's sweetened with sugar. If you're looking to incorporate cinnamon sticks into some of your favorite beverages, we recommend using the Feel Good Organics Organic Korintje Cinnamon Sticks.
Best Cinnamon Sugar: FreshJax Maple Cinnamon Sugar Topping
Not your average topping, this sweet alternative to cinnamon sugar boasts a subtle maple flavor for a unique (and delicious) twist. You can use it the same way you'd use regular cinnamon sugar, but it lends itself to different dishes since the flavors are more complex.
What to Look for in Cinnamon
Of the four types of cinnamon, Ceylon and cassia are the two most widely available. Cassia cinnamon primarily comes from China and is the type on most grocery store shelve (if it doesn’t specify, it’s likely cassia), but Ceylon cinnamon is often regarded as higher quality and better-tasting.
What are the Different Types of Cinnamon
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually five (not four) botanical species of the tree bark commonly referred to as cinnamon. They are as follows:
What's the Most Common Type?
Cassia cinnamon is the type you typically see in the supermarket spice aisle, and in food product/supplement formulations when the label only states “cinnamon.” It’s the cheapest and most widely available of the five types, so many manufacturers use it to reduce costs.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, especially in extract form. Its polyphenols, namely rutin, catechin, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin are responsible for most of its health-promoting effects.
Toxins in Cinnamon
The main reason why Ceylon cinnamon, colloquially known as “true cinnamon” is considered the healthiest type is because it has essentially zero toxins. All forms of cinnamon contain a compound called coumarin which is toxic to humans. But the levels vary drastically.
So Which is the Healthiest?
Ceylon cinnamon contains all of the health-promoting properties of cinnamon with none of the toxic properties, which is why it’s the healthiest type of cinnamon. We analyzed all of this research while formulating our Ceylon Cinnamon Extract Supplement, which has a potency based on the medical research standard.
The Latest Research on Cinnamon Benefits
While the concept of food as medicine is as old as time, it's taken us quite a while to get up to speed in the west.
Finding Quality Cinnamon
Not all cinnamon is created equal, so be careful what you buy. When you are perusing the supermarket shelves, you’ll likely see Cinnamomum cassia sold as Chinese or Cassia cinnamon, whereas Cinnamomum verum will be sold as Ceylon cinnamon. According to our experts, you should opt for the latter.
Best Cinnamon Products by Type
Whether you want to add cinnamon to your diet or to your supplement regime, we've got you covered.
How Much Cinnamon Should I Eat?
Once you’ve got your hands on some true Ceylon cinnamon, the recommended dosage, according to the U.S. Department of Health, is up to 6 grams daily for 6 weeks or fewer.
How Should I Add Cinnamon to My Diet?
Jane Dizon, a nurse and health and fitness enthusiast behind Health and Fitness, has a few suggestions for how to add cinnamon to your diet. “You could add half to one teaspoon of cinnamon powder to your coffee, or sprinkle some on your fruit platter. It’s also great with baked sweet potatoes, oatmeals and apple cider.”
Etymology
The English word "cinnamon", attested in English since the 15th century, deriving from the Ancient Greek κιννάμωμον ( kinnámōmon, later κίνναμον : kínnamon ), via Latin and medieval French intermediate forms. The Greek was borrowed from a Phoenician word, which was similar to the related Hebrew word קינמון ( qinnāmōn ).
History
Cinnamon has been known from remote antiquity. It was imported to Egypt as early as 2000 BC, but those who reported that it had come from China had confused it with Cinnamomum cassia, a related species.
Cultivation
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree characterized by oval-shaped leaves, thick bark and a berry fruit. When harvesting the spice, the bark and leaves are the primary parts of the plant used. Cinnamon is cultivated by growing the tree for two years, then coppicing it, i.e., cutting the stems at ground level.
Production
Cinnamon sticks are harder to counterfeit than cinnamon powder, that without reliable certification can be mixed with cassia and falsely marketed as authentic. For example, in one analysis authentic Ceylon cinnamon bark contained 143 mg/kg but marked samples contained 3462 mg/kg which the author suggested was diluted with cassia.
Food uses
Cinnamon bark is used as a spice. It is principally employed in cookery as a condiment and flavouring material. It is used in the preparation of chocolate, especially in Mexico. Cinnamon is often used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb.
Flavour, aroma and taste
The flavour of cinnamon is due to an aromatic essential oil that makes up 0.5 to 1% of its composition. This essential oil can be prepared by roughly pounding the bark, macerating it in sea water, and then quickly distilling the whole. It is of a golden-yellow colour, with the characteristic odour of cinnamon and a very hot aromatic taste.
Health-related research
Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine as a digestive aid, however, contemporary studies are unable to find evidence of any significant medicinal or therapeutic effect.
The differences between Ceylon & Cassia cinnamon
Before I go into describing what I call “fake” cinnamon, let’s bust a myth wide open.
So, how do you get your hands on fresh cinnamon?
You have to buy from a trusted source — a source that discloses harvest dates as well as type of cinnamon (and where it comes from!).
May help reduce blood sugar levels
Research suggests that cinnamon may help reduce blood sugar, which is especially important for people with diabetes.
Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
Similarly to other varieties, Saigon cinnamon is high in antioxidants, which are compounds that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals ( 7 ).
May have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties
Many studies confirm the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of cinnamon ( 15, 16, 17, 18 ).