Cinnamon

What is cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice that has been used in both sweet and savoury dishes for centuries, due to its both sweet, spiced and aromatic flavour. Part of the reason it has been popular for so long is because of its versatility. Read on to learn more about cinnamon.

Cinnamon leaves, cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon?

Cinnamon comes in three forms:

Ground cinnamon - the most frequently used type of cinnamon, as its ground form is the easiest and quickest to add flavour to add dishes. Sweet recipes are often finished with a dusting of ground cinnamon
Cinnamon sticks - these are used as a flavouring for hot cocoa, apple cider, or other beverages. It is also used as the main ingredient in many dishes ranging from pies to meat
Cinnamon leaves - Cinnamon leaves are the dried leaves from the Cinnamomum tree. They have a sweet scent and flavour similar to their namesake spice. The leaves are often used in traditional cooking to add flavour to dishes. They can also be ground into a paste or brewed as a herbal tea.

Varieties of cinnamon

There are four varieties of cinnamon grown: Ceylon (or true) cinnamon (cassia), Saigon (Vietnamese) cinnamon, Korintje cinnamon, and Chinese cinnamon.

How do you use cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a versatile spice that you can add to a variety of dishes. It is often used in sweet recipes such as desserts or beverages like tea. It's also used in savoury recipes like curries or stews. In some countries it is used as a herbal remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats as it is believed to possess health benefits and healing properties: