Types Of Cinnamon Here's What You Need To Know

High-quality cinnamon must have a very strong aroma along with a sweet and pungent taste. Though slightly more muted than the Big Red smell that jumped from our favorite sticks by Curio, this ground cinnamon worked hard to give off a tantalizingly spicy aroma. As is often the case, the flavor was much milder, but it managed to hold its own against cassia styles, even in baking, which no other true cinnamon could. For cinnamon purists open to looking outside cinnamon’s traditional region, this Tanzanian variety brings the most flavor. However, like Burlap & Barrel's other cinnamon, the packaging meant that it made a bit of a mess every time we opened the jar.
Extractions from this cinnamon are used for various medicinal purposes. One of its most important properties is its anticoagulant effects. It is used to create the anticoagulant medicine known as warfarin which is often sold under the brand name Coumadin which reflects its relation to the different types of cinnamon.

Whereas, the oil that’s distilled from the bark which contains oleoresin of the bark is used when making perfumes and soaps. Korintje cinnamon can give a bitter-sweet, smooth, astringent, and woodsy flavor in its ground form. It blends well with brewed espresso, milk, tea, and other ingredients used in Starbucks beverages. Whether in its ground form or as a whole stick, cinnamon’s aromatic warmth is a cherished addition to countless dishes, showcasing its versatility and enduring appeal. It’s essential to read the label to determine the specific type of cinnamon in the product.
A preliminary study on cinnamon and cardamom against azoxymethane- (AOM-) induced colon cancer in Swiss albino mice has been conducted . Cassia inhibit alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone's induced melanin production, thereby suppressing oxidative stress in murine B16 melanoma cells . Several studies on medicinal plants and their components have indicated the anti-inflammatory activities of cinnamon [76–81]. Various studies reported the anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon and its essential oils [34–36]. To date, there are several flavonoid compounds (e.g., gossypin, gnaphalin, hesperidin, hibifolin, hypolaetin, oroxindin, and quercetin) that have been isolated and have anti-inflammatory activities [82–86].

And he says adding cinnamon to spice blends is a great way to layer flavors when you're cooking. A plant called cassia , by contrast, is native to southern China and spans a much larger territory, making it more readily available—and way cheaper. This is the stuff you often see sold as cinnamon sticks, says Johnson. Neither the aroma, flavor or texture are the same as that of Ceylon cinnamon, but the FDA doesn't distinguish between the two. A happy side effect you might be after by adding cinnamon to your diet is weight loss. Cinnamon isn't a magical compound that will cause you to shed lots of pounds, but it can help with the reduction of inflammation and level out insulin levels so your body is better at processing foods.
The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners. Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine in various parts of the world, including China, India, and Persia . Korintje cinnamon is a type of Cassia cinnamon grown and harvested in Indonesia and comes from the Cinnamomum burmannii tree. Korintje cinnamon is harvested in the same way as Cassia and Saigon cinnamon. Cinnamon originally grows as the inner bark of an evergreen tree.
To avoid harmful effects on health, experts recommend limiting the use of Saigon cinnamon or opting for Ceylon cinnamon. Chronic inflammation can trigger the immune system to go into overdrive, harming healthy tissues and cells in the process and leading to chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. Learn about the benefits of Saigon cinnamon and how it compares to other types. However, farmers now grow several sub-species across  East and South Asia. Cassia tends to be dark red-brown with thicker sticks and coarser texture than Ceylon cinnamon. Cinnamomum verum, which translates from Latin as “true cinnamon”, is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Whether it’s for Thanksgiving or just Monday night dinner, this streusel galette will make any meal feel special. These cinnamon twists make for a fun dessert or breakfast treat. They take very little time to prepare and they can cook while you eat your meal. You can make a large batch of these and have them handy for healthy snacks. They are easy to take on the go and to satisfy your sweet tooth. Cinnamon has also been shown to lower the cholesterol levels of patients with diabetes.
Shi Y, Chen Q-X, Wang Q, Song K-K, Qiu L. Inhibitory effects of cinnamic acid and its derivatives on the diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase. Lin C-C, Wu S-J, Chang C-H, Ng L-T. Antioxidant activity of Cinnamomum cassia. Lee H-S, Kim B-S, Kim M-K. Suppression effect of Cinnamomum cassia bark-derived component on nitric oxide synthase. Dhulasavant V, Shinde S, Pawar M, Naikwade NS. Antihyperlipidemic activity of Cinnamomum tamala Nees. Jarvill-Taylor KJ, Anderson RA, Graves DJ. A hydroxychalcone derived from cinnamon functions as a mimetic for insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Cinnamon bark proanthocyanidins as reactive carbonyl scavengers to prevent the formation of advanced glycation endproducts.

But sometimes, recipes can be confusing about how much to use. Euginol is the main chemical ingredient in cinnamon leaf oil and Cinnamaldihide is present in cinnamon bark oil. However there are hundreds of minor chemical ingredients which give characteristic flavor and aroma in true cinnamon.
Trees typically grow for about two years before harvesting begins. Cinnamon is actually one of the oldest spices in the entire world. The ancient Types of Cinnamon Egyptians were known to use cinnamon as both a spice and a gift that was largely enjoyed by royalty instead of the common classes.

Ceylon cinnamon is generally considered to be of higher quality and has a milder, sweeter flavor. While it may be more expensive, some people prefer its taste and opt for it in recipes where the subtlety of flavor is crucial. Ceylon cinnamon is the healthiest type of cinnamon in our opinion, because it contains the lowest levels of coumarin , and the highest levels of health-promoting polyphenols. Illuminate Labs sells a Ceylon Cinnamon Extract supplement that's third-party tested for purity, potency and label accuracy. We reviewed the clinical studies in this article prior to formulating our supplement, and they informed our decision to choose Ceylon out of all types of cinnamon.
It is nutrient-rich and considered a blood sugar regulator. Plant organic extracts are a rich source of antimicrobial agents and methanol extracts are known for their antimicrobial properties. Indeed, organic solvents have a good ability to solubilize the active components (de Boer et al., 2005) and their use does not influence the bioactivity of these components (Goyal et al., 2009).
The two main types of cinnamon are called Ceylon and Cassia. Some research suggests that compounds in cinnamon may protect the heart. Researchers investigated the effect of oral cinnamon supplementation on people with metabolic syndrome. However, researchers note that more studies are needed to address cinnamon's effects on the rate of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon has been studied for its therapeutic effects, from lowering blood sugar and cholesterol to reducing inflammation. The two types of cinnamon are differentiated by their originality, climatic conditions to harvest, and the chemical compounds that all has an affect on their taste, smell and appearance.