Cinnamon
Sticks is aromatic, with a sweet, deep, warm, delicate flavor. Sweet and spicy
fragrant whole cinnamon sticks. Use as stirrers for hot beverages, garnish for
seasonal dishes, and to infuse recipes with cinnamon flavor. Ceylon
cinnamon, also called cinnamon verum or true cinnamon, is a highly valued
culinary and medicinal spice. It is a versatile, aromatic spice with many uses.
Native to Sri Lanka, Ceylon cinnamon is rare and can be harder to find than its
common cousin, cassia cinnamon. Whole
Ceylon cinnamon has a tan brown color and the rolls have a paper-like texture.
This type of cinnamon has a stronger flavor and lower oil content than cassia
cinnamon.
Ceylon
cinnamon is derived from the bark of the cinnamomum zeylanicum tree. It can be
broken up into cinnamon chips, pounded or blended, to make ground cinnamon.
With a delicate, sweet and subtle flavor, Ceylon cinnamon is excellent for
pastries, cakes and desserts. In
addition to being used in baking and cooking, cinnamon has been tauted for its
health benefits. With its low content of coumarin, a naturally occurring
blood-thinner, Ceylon cinnamon is recommended for regular use and may
contribute to correcting blood sugar levels. The
first historical reference to true or sweet cinnamon occurs in the New
Testament of the Bible. While there are limited written records, ancient
Egyptians used cinnamon as a preservative in cooking, in embalming, and as a
medicinal ingredient, beginning in 2000 BC. In
the 13th century, the country that would become Sri Lanka, was
recognized as the world’s best cinnamon source. Up until this point, it is
believed, the origination of Ceylon cinnamon was kept secret from the rest of
the world.
Ceylon
cinnamon was introduced to Europe by Arabian traders. According to Roman and
Greek records, elaborate tales were developed around Ceylon cinnamon to
discourage competition. It was the arrival of the Portuguese in
the 15th century that truly brought Ceylon cinnamon to the global
market. Control of the cinnamon trade continued to evolve over time, moving
from the Portuguese, to the Dutch, to the British. The
country of Ceylon was independent until 1972, when it became a republic and
changed its name to Sri Lanka. Today, the trade of pure Ceylon cinnamon is mostly
in the hands of local cinnamon exporters in Sri Lanka.