Spice of the week: Cinnamon

Hello everyone,

This week we will feature cinnamon because is it often used in the fall and winter months. Cinnamon (genus name Cinnamomum) is a warm aromatic spice that comes from the inner bark of a few tree species. While there are different species of trees that produce cinnamon, the species that is commonly used for spice is Cinnamomum cassia. Although the history of cinnamon is a bit muddled, it is known that it originated in Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar. Cinnamon was a highly valuable commodity throughout history. Cinnamon was often gifted to royalty and deities. Cinnamon was used to embalm mummies in ancient Egypt. Cinnamon was so expensive that the average person could not afford it. It is rumored that the Roman Emperor Nero burned 50 pounds of cinnamon during his wife’s funeral! Because of cinnamon’s value, the Mediterranean secretly hid it from the rest of the world for several centuries. Most cinnamon we consume today comes from Vietnam and other Asian and South American countries with similar climates.

Cinnamon can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. According the to US Department of Agriculture, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains 26mg of calcium and 11mg of potassium among other nutrients. Cinnamon is full of antioxidants that curtail internal body damage. It also contains properties that can decrease bodily inflammation. Some studies suggest that cinnamon can decrease the risk of heart disease, improve insulin sensitivity. lower blood sugar levels, protect against some cancers, and fight bacterial infections.

The average person does not consume enough cinnamon to fully enjoy the health benefits of cinnamon. Cinnamon is often consumed seasonally, in a specific dish, or as an accompaniment to a dish. Cinnamon is versatile and adds a nice flavor to many dishes that a person may not think of, such as braised meats, stews, and smoothies. Some of my favorite ways to consume cinnamon include incorporated in baked goods, sprinkled on top of a baked sweet potato, in various soups and stews, in my homemade cranberry sauce, and in my turmeric water recipe (recipe is in another entry of this blog if you want to check it out). What are some of your favorite ways to consume cinnamon? Do you use ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, or both?