What is the name of the plant that cinnamon comes from?
Where Cinnamon Comes from (Cinnamon Science)
- Cinnamomum. Cinnamon comes from a group of trees (a genus) with the latin name Cinnamomum. ...
- Cinnamon starts out as a tree. If you look closely at a stick of cinnamon you will notice that it is curled up. ...
- Making cinnamon powder. Cinnamon sticks are great to use when you want to infuse flavour into a sauce or liquid. ...
- References
Which plant family does cinnamon belong to?
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Cinnamon cassia), the eternal tree of tropical medicine, belongs to the Lauraceae family. Cinnamon is one of the most important spices used daily by people all over the world. Cinnamon primarily contains vital oils and other derivatives, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate.
What plant does Lemonade come from?
Native to South Asia, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a delicious plant with a unique lemon-like taste that is often used as a flavoring in Asian foods and beverages. I grew up in a small town in South Carolina that was not exactly known for its ethnic restaurants. A couple times each year, we’d go see family in Tampa, Florida.
Does cinnamon grow on trees?
Cinnamon flowers. 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.
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Where do cinnamon leaves come from?
Growing on the branches of the Cinnamomum verum, cinnamon leaves tend to have a less intense taste and aroma than cinnamon bark when cooking (via Just Go To Chef). Cinnamon leaves are known to have been around since ancient times and are believed to have come from Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India.
Is cinnamon obtained from plant stem?
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum.
What part of cinnamon is harvested?
During harvest, the branches are chopped off and entire trees are cut down. The outer bark is peeled off revealing an inner bark, the cinnamon, which curls into a quill as it dries. Growing cassia is a deep-rooted investment, since new trees can regenerate from the root stump for a few generations.
How do you get cinnamon from a cinnamon tree?
To harvest it, you'll need to cut down a section of the cinnamon tree and remove the outermost layer of bark. Use a paint scraper to scrape off the cinnamon layer in sheets, and then let the cinnamon dry in a warm environment. You can either grind the cinnamon into a powder or use it in its curled-up form.
What spices get from plant stems?
Red chilli is a spice which is obtained from the fruits of its plant. Turmeric is the root of the plant, ginger is the underground stem and fennel is the seed.
Which part of the plant is clove?
The aromatic flower buds of the plant are known as cloves and are commonly used as a spice.
How cinnamon is produced?
In truth, the expensive spice is made from the bark of the cinnamon tree, which grows on large plantations. To make cinnamon, only the evergreen branches of the tree are used. True Ceylon cinnamon, known for its impeccable quality, comes from Sri Lanka. In the peeling huts, the bark is separated from the branch.
Can you eat cinnamon stick?
Can you eat cinnamon sticks? There are several different ways to eat cinnamon sticks. You can grind them into a powder that you can then sprinkle on the top of cakes, desserts, biscuits and other dishes, or you can stir it into food as you're cooking.
Does cinnamon bark regrow?
Harvesting. You can harvest your cinnamon two to three years after planting and then every two years after that. Cut off individual branches, or cut the entire tree at the trunk. (Trees growing in the ground often produce new shoots that will become a new tree.)
Can you eat cinnamon leaves?
Cinnamon Leaves are used to flavor stews, pilafs, and curries, and dried Cinnamon leaves can frequently be substituted for bay leaves in many recipes. They can also be used as a flavoring agent for baked goods and desserts. They pair well with cloves, green cardamom, black pepper, coconut milk, pork, chicken, and lamb.
What can cinnamon do to your body?
10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of CinnamonCinnamon Is High in a Substance With Powerful Medicinal Properties. ... Cinnamon Is Loaded With Antioxidants. ... Cinnamon Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties. ... Cinnamon May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease. ... Cinnamon Can Improve Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin.More items...•
Can I grow my own cinnamon?
Cinnamon is well known for its culinary uses, yet it is hardly ever grown in ordinary home settings. It's easy to grow, however. As long as the soil is kept slightly dry, a potted cinnamon plant can thrive for years without special care.
How is cinnamon produced?
They score and peel sections of bark from trees and scrape off the outer portion, revealing the light reddish brown inner bark. Larger pieces can be ground into powdered spice and peels from smaller twigs and shoots dry into familiar curled sticks.
Can cinnamon be used on plants?
Cinnamon as a rooting agent is as useful as willow water or hormone rooting powder. A single application to the stem when you plant the cutting will stimulate root growth in almost every plant variety. Give your cuttings a quick start with the help of cinnamon powder.
What are the two main types of cinnamon?
And they all taste a bit different from one another. Cinnamon is separated into two main categories: cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon. While both are harvested in sheets found beneath the bark of trees belonging to the same scientific family, they produce distinctly different products.
Can you grow a cinnamon tree?
If you're considering cultivating your own cinnamon tree, it's important to keep in mind that cinnamon trees are native to tropical regions. Cinnamon plants can only truly thrive as outdoor plants in USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11. Otherwise, they're best kept as houseplants, or kept outside only during the warmer months.
What is cinnamon?
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), also called Ceylon cinnamon, is a bushy evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae) and the spice derived from its...
Where is the cinnamon tree found?
Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar. It is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies.
What are the uses of cinnamon?
Cinnamon is used as flavoring in a variety of foods, from confections to curries to beverages, and is popular in bakery goods. The essential oil di...
What plant species are sources for cinnamon?
In addition to Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), other species used as a source for cinnamom include Chinese cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), Vietname...
What is the essential oil in a cinnamon tree?
Trunk of a cinnamon tree ( Cinnamomum verum ). Cinnamon contains 0.5 to 1 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is cinnamic aldehyde. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
What is cinnamon used for?
Cinnamon is used to flavour a variety of foods, from confections to curries to beverages, and is popular in bakery goods in many places.
How tall is a cinnamon tree?
Physical description. The cinnamon tree grows in moist well-drained soils and rarely reaches more than 15 metres (49 feet) in height. The thick simple leaves have smooth margins and are usually oval; the veins are roughly parallel to each other. Young leaves are red and mature to a deep green.
How much essential oil is in cinnamon?
Cinnamon contains 0.5 to 1 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is cinnamic aldehyde. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
Where does cinnamon come from?
Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), the neighbouring Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma) and is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies.
How are sage shoots processed?
In processing, the shoots are first scraped with a semicircular blade and then rubbed with a brass rod to loosen the bark, which is split with a knife and peeled.
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
How do farmers shave cinnamon?
Cinnamon farmers first shave the outer bark off the trees, and then shave off the inner bark -- the cinnamon layer.
What is cinnamon used for?
Cinnamon is one of those sweet spices that is so versatile -- in and outside the kitchen -- that we might even take it for granted sometimes. It goes well in savory dishes like soups and tagines, and can do wonders on meat and chicken.
Where does cinnamon come from?
Cinnamon comes from bark. Specifically, it comes from the inner layer of bark derived from dozens of varieties of evergreen trees that belong to the genus Cinnamomum.
Is Ceylon cinnamon real?
Contrary to popular opinion, there is no such thing as "true cinnamon.". People incorrectly conclude that Ceylon cinnamon is " real cinnamon" because of its scientific name, Cinnamomum verum. Cassia, scientifically known as cinnamomum cassia, is just as real.
Can cinnamon be used for beauty?
You can also use it in your beauty routine. It can help out around the house and it may even have some healing properties. Cinnamon makes us think of Christmas and cozying up in front of the fire, but it also makes us think of apple pie in the fall and cinnamon sugar doughnuts at the summer farmers market. Advertisement.
Is cinnamon good for diabetes?
It could benefit diabetes patients. While studies on cinnamon's health benefits -- such as whether it might reduce inflammation or have antioxidant effects -- have been mixed, it has been used as both a spice and medicine for thousands of years.
What is cinnamon used for?
Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snackfoods, tea and traditional foods.
What is the difference between cinnamon and cassia?
Among cassia, Chinese cinnamon is generally medium to light reddish-brown in colour, hard and woody in texture, and thicker (2–3 mm [0.079–0.118 in] thick), as all of the layers of bark are used. Ceylon cinnamon, using only the thin inner bark, has a lighter brown colour and a finer, less dense, and more crumbly texture. It is subtle and more aromatic in flavour than cassia and it loses much of its flavour during cooking.
What was cinnamon used for in ancient Egypt?
In Ancient Egypt, cinnamon was used to embalm mummies. From the Ptolemaic Kingdom onward, Ancient Egyptian recipes for kyphi, an aromatic used for burning, included cinnamon and cassia. The gifts of Hellenistic rulers to temples sometimes included cassia and cinnamon.
How much coumarin should I consume daily?
In 2008, the European Food Safety Authority considered the toxicity of coumarin, a component of cinnamon, and confirmed a maximum recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg of coumarin per kg of body weight . Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations and metabolic effect in humans with CYP2A6 polymorphism. Based on this assessment, the European Union set a guideline for maximum coumarin content in foodstuffs of 50 mg per kg of dough in seasonal foods, and 15 mg per kg in everyday baked foods. The maximum recommended TDI of 0.1 mg of coumarin per kg of body weight equates to 5 mg of coumarin for a body weight of 50 kg:
How big are cinnamon quills?
The Sri Lankan grading system divides the cinnamon quills into four groups: Alba, less than 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter. Continental, less than 16 mm (0.63 in) in diameter. Mexican, less than 19 mm (0.75 in) in diameter. Hamburg, less than 32 mm (1.3 in) in diameter.
How long does it take for cinnamon to grow?
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.
How much did cinnamon cost in Rome?
According to Pliny the Elder, a Roman pound (327 grams [11.5 oz]) of cassia, cinnamon, or serichatum cost up to 1,500 denarii, the wage of fifty months' labour. Diocletian 's Edict on Maximum Prices from 301 AD gives a price of 125 denarii for a pound of cassia, while an agricultural labourer earned 25 denarii per day. Cinnamon was too expensive to be commonly used on funeral pyres in Rome, but the Emperor Nero is said to have burned a year's worth of the city's supply at the funeral for his wife Poppaea Sabina in AD 65.
How is cinnamon powder made?
Powdered cinnamon is made by milling the cinnamon sticks. If you’ve ever tried to grind a cinnamon stick, you noticed that it’s not easy. Even a strong food processor can have trouble grinding a cinnamon stick. Even if your kitchen gear is strong enough a lot of heat is created along the process. This heat can destroy some of those flavourful oils in the cinnamon which is highly undesirable of course. That is why manufacturers have special mills, or might even use sub zero temperatures, to ensure as much flavour is kept within the powder while grinding it to a fine even size. Since the milling process can give manufacturers a real quality advantage over others, these processes are generally proprietary information.
How do cinnamon sticks form?
These layers of inner bark then need to dry during which they harden out and become shelf stable. It’s during this drying process that the bark will curl up further and create those beautiful structure of cinnamon sticks. Some cinnamon sticks will be just one or two layers of curled up material, others might consist of several thin layers of bark. Which structure you get depends on how the peelers obtain and dry the bark and on the type of cinnamon. Generally, thinner layers of cinnamon from the ‘true’ cinnamon plant are better suited to deposit in several thin layers.
What is the other type of cinnamon?
The other major type of cinnamon is the cassia cinnamon, which can be Cinnamomum cassia, or C. burmannii or C. tamala. Whether or not this type is called cinnamon or cassia, depends on the country you live in. Regulations and customs differ between Europe, America and Asia. Which one you regard as the ‘real’ cinnamon may depend on where you come from and which type of cinnamon you’re used to.
Why do you use cinnamon sticks?
Cinnamon sticks are great to use when you want to infuse flavour into a sauce or liquid. However, if you want to add that cinnamon flavour to a drier product such as a bread dough for cinnamon rolls, a stick isn’t very convenient. This is why a lot of the cinnamon (generally those sticks that don’t look as good) is made into cinnamon powder.
What is the cinnamon stick on the left?
The sticks on the left are the ‘true’ cinnamon, recognizable by all the layers of bark (and recognizable thanks to the label on the packaging). The sticks on the left are the cassia variety, they are made up of only one layer.
Where does cinnamon come from?
The ‘original’ or ‘true’ cinnamon comes from a tree called Cinnamomum zeylanicum. This types originates from Sri Lanka and South India , with Sri Lanka still being by far the largest producer of it.
Can you make cinnamon bark into powder?
Instead of making the bark into a powder, you can also make it into a cinnamon extract. This works very similar to making vanilla extracts!
Overview
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. The following year, about a dozen new shoots form from the roots, replacing those that were cut. …
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 קנמון (qinnāmōn).
The name "cassia", first recorded in late Old English from Latin, ultimately derives from the Hebre…
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. Cinnamon was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a deity; a fine inscription records the gift of cinnamon …
Production
In 2020, four countries accounted for 98% of the world production of cinnamon, a total of 222,122 tonnes: Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.
True cinnamon from C. verum bark can be mixed with cassia (C. cassia) as counterfeit and falsely marketed as authentic cinnamon. In one analysis, authentic Ceylon cinnamon bark contained 12-143 mg/kg of coumarin – a phenolic typically low in content in true cinnamon – but market sampl…
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. In the United States and Europe, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavour cereals, bread-based dishes such as toast, and fruits, especially apples; …
Characteristics
Ceylon cinnamon may be crushed into small pieces by hand while Indonesian cinnamon requires a powerful blender.
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 …
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.
Reviews of clinical trials reported lowering of fasting plasma glucose and inconsistent effects on hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c, an indicator of chronically elevated plasma glucose). Four of the revie…