Cinnamaldehyde is the incredible compound that gives cinnamon its odor and flavor, and it can also ease swelling and prevent blood platelets from clumping together. Its anti-inflammatory qualities don’t stop there; it can also block certain substances associated with abnormal cell growth and thereby lower the risk for disease.
Ceylon cinnamon is taken from the bark of an evergreen tree belonging, like the camphor tree, to the laurel family. The Ceylon cinnamon is cultivated in southern India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Java, Indonesia, the West Indies, French Guiana and Brazil. Before the nineteenth century, cinnamon was taken from the wild trees of Sri Lanka.
Ground cinnamon is composed of around 11% water, 81% carbohydrates (including 53% dietary fiber), 4% protein, and 1% fat (table).[34] In a 100 gram reference amount, ground cinnamon is a rich source of calcium (100% of the Daily Value, DV), iron (64% DV), and vitamin K (30% DV).
Make tea, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and mulled wine look festive with Cinnamon Sticks. Or grind them for ground cinnamon. You can also finely grate Cinnamon Sticks to add to bread, cake, cookie and other pastry batters.
Indeed, the rise of sap increases the scent of cinnamon and facilitates the debarking of the branch. Depending on the country, cinnamon harvesters carry the branches home or peel them in the forest. In Sri Lanka, the pickers of cinnamon hull branches at home. By a circular incision, then longitudinal, they cut ribbons of bark. They then put the pieces flat to scratch the surface cork and keep only the inner bark, called liber and rich in essential oils. For drying, the liber is placed on racks, in the shade, inside the houses that embalm. The sticks roll on themselves while drying.
The Swedes know how to live – their cinnamon buns are a prime example. (Click on the image for the recipe)
They are then sorted and gathered according to size, in bundles or in bundles. The spice is the fragment of bark, dried and rolled on itself, spontaneously or with the help of preparers.
Make your own mouthwash by boiling 5 cinnamon sticks in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes.
The exceptional flavor of Ceylon cinnamon comes from its content of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol: it is this aromatic mixture that makes it unsurpassable. Depending on the place of production, its quality may vary, depending on the proportion of eugenol. Sometimes it contains camphor, which makes it too violent. Cinnamon from Sri Lanka, its original island, remains the best.
Cassia Vera
Origin: Indonesia
The broken pieces of cinnamon, recovered during the preparation of the sticks, are intended for making cinnamon powders, or they are distilled to extract the essential oil. The essential oil of cinnamon is used in perfumery and by the food industry for the preparation of drinks, desserts, pastries and biscuits. The essence of the leaves is more like cloves than cinnamon, because it contains a lot of eugenol, the basis of the manufacture of artificial Vanilin.
Amazingly Moist Carrot Cake Stuffed with Carrots, Coconut, Pineapple, Topped with a Buttermilk Glaze and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting! The BEST Carrot Cake Ever. Soon to be Your Favorite Carrot Cake! (Click here for the recipe)
The ancients considered cinnamon as the first of the spices and had hoisted it into a royal gift alongside myrrh, gold and incense. Cinnamon is a very aromatic spice that must be used sparingly, either in sticks (discarded after use) or in powder form. It perfumes sweet preparations and hot drinks but also salty preparations, stewed meat, tajines and curries. The cooks rank it in the category of spices called “sweet”.
The heat and power of its aroma justify that it has always been considered an aphrodisiac. In China, for example, a legend tells how the cinnamon goddess, in love with a young philosopher, uses cinnamon as a love potion.
Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. And while these days, most of us would rather get our hands on 24 karats instead of 24 ounces, it turns out that this aromatic tree bark could be more valuable than gold, especially when it comes to health benefits.
Nutritional and medicinal values
The essential oil of cinnamon is composed of 65-90% of cinnamic aldehyde, 4 to 12% of phenols (especially eugenol) and the following compounds: camphor, beta-caryophyllene, benzaldehyde, cuminaldehyde, cineol , phellandrene, etc.
Cinnamomum is a genus of evergreen aromatic trees and shrubs belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The species of Cinnamomum have aromatic oils in their leaves and bark. The genus contains over 300 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
It is supposed to stimulate digestion and respiration, be antiseptic (active against the bacillus of typhoid, antispasmodic, deworming, it is sometimes indicated in atony and gastrointestinal spasm, influenzal asthenia (J. Valnet). Some studies indicate that cinnamon is effective in helping diabetics to stabilize their blood sugar but this is contradicted by a study published in January 2008.
Light brown Ceylon sticks are created by rolling several layers of delicate inner bark from the of a cinnamon tree. It is extremely aromatic and has a sweet and savory flavors that add freshness to any dish. Used for seasoning and medicinal purposes.
Cinnamon is also rich in antioxidants and could play a role in the metabolism of sugars and fats. In addition, the authors note that the consumption of high doses of cinnamon or cinnamon extracts may be toxic, since cinnamon contains coumarin, a substance which in susceptible persons may cause liver damage and coumarin is low in cinnamon from Sri Lanka, unlike cassia (or Chinese cinnamon) which contains two recent studies have highlighted that cinnamon may have antihypertensive properties and may slow gastric emptying
A blend of vitamin E and highly emollient ingredients provide hydration and moisturize the lips, while natural lip enhancers provide volume. The gloss has an even and saturated application that delivers a long lasting brilliantly glossy end look.
Species
A number of species are often sold as cinnamon:
- Cinnamomum cassia (cassia or Chinese cinnamon, the most common commercial type)
- C. burmannii (Korintje, Padang cassia, or Indonesian cinnamon)
- C. loureiroi (Saigon cinnamon, Vietnamese cassia, or Vietnamese cinnamon)
- C. verum (Sri Lanka cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon or Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- C. citriodorum (Malabar cinnamon)
Etymology
The English word “cinnamon”, attested in English since the fifteenth century, derives from the Greek κιννάμωμον kinnámōmon (later kínnamon), via Latin and medieval French intermediate forms.
Cinnamon can stop acne-causing bacteria in its tracks! To make one great-smelling acne mask, simply combine 3 tablespoons of honey with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon to form a paste. Leave it on your skin for 10 minutes, then wash it off and enjoy your refreshed face.
The Greek was borrowed from a Phoenician word, which was similar to the related Hebrew קינמון (qinnāmōn).
The name “cassia”, first recorded in late Old English from Latin, and ultimately derives from Hebrew q’tsīʿāh, a form of the verb qātsaʿ, “to strip off bark”.
Early Modern English also used the names canel and canella, similar to the current names of cinnamon in several other European languages, which are derived from the Latin word cannella, a diminutive of canna, “tube”, from the way the bark curls up as it dries.
To maximise the medicinal value and health benefits of cinnamon, regardless of type, the key thing is its freshness. Some prefer the sweet, subtle flavour of Ceylon cinnamon in desserts and the stronger potency of Cassia in savoury dishes
Cinnamon is also…
Songs:
Je l’appelle Cannelle (Antoine)… Typically the French variety of the 60s!
Cinnamon (Wild Strawberries)… 90’s
And the very sad Cinnamon Girl (Lana Del Rey)
A nice homemade brioche, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and pecan nuts and rolled to make the famous ‘cinnamon rolls’ with royal ice cream. (Click on the image for the recipe)
Recipes:
these delicious spicy notes to energize the air, stimulate great conversations, evoke warm hugs, and fill your home with laughter.
Candles:
Perhaps the most astounding and exciting benefit of a daily dose of cinnamon is its impact on type 2 diabetes. It may help manage this condition by reducing blood pressure and improving insulin sensitivity.
Cinnamon is often used in savoury dishes of chicken and lamb. In the United States, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavour cereals, bread-based dishes, such as toast, and fruits, especially apples; a cinnamon-sugar mixture is sold separately for such purposes.
Discover the spices while having fun during the Moroccan cooking classes with Faim d’épices (Marrakesh)
