Cinnamon “Daalchini” (in hindi) is a warm, cocoa brown colored spice sourced from inner bark of Cinnamomum genus group of trees. It usually found in rolled dried sticks or in powder foam. Cinnamon is highly aromatic and feels warm when placed on tongue.
HISTORY
Cinnamon is in human use from thousands of years. Egyptians used it; as well as related spice “cassia” was used as perfuming agent during the preserving process, and records suggests that it’s been used as an ingredient in anointing oil. Record says it was used throughout the ancient world, pretty sure Arab traders brought it to Europe, where it proved highly poplar and history says that the Roman emperor “Nero” burned as much as he could find of the precious spice on the funeral pyre of his second wife “Poppaea Sabina” in A.D. 65 to apologize for his role in her death.
The Arabs controlled the transport of cinnamon so that they can get maximum price of each gram of it, in result limited and expensive supply made the use of cinnamon a status symbol in Europe in the Middle Ages. Though middle class also wanted to buy this luxurious spice but due to price factor and limited supply, it was nearly a dream for them to put their hand on cinnamon. Arab merchants managed to hide the origin of cinnamon until the early 16th century, to maintain their monopoly on cinnamon trade and justification to its outrageous price. Arab traders fabricated exuberant tales for their buyers about where and how they obtained the extravagant spice. One such story, related by the 5th century B.C Greek historian “Herodotos” said that, “mammoth birds carried the cinnamon sticks to their nests alighted high atop mountains that were intractable by any human. According to the story, people would leave large pieces of ox meat below these nests for the birds to collect. When the birds brought the meat into the nest, its weight would cause the nests to fall to the ground, allowing the cinnamon sticks collected. Another tall tale reported that the cinnamon was found in deep canyons guarded by terrifying snakes, and first-century Roman philosopher “Pliny the Elder” proposed that cinnamon came from Ethiopia, carried on rafts with no oars or sails, powered by “man alone and his courage.”
Europeans were struggling to meet increasing demand, so they set out to find the spice’s enigmatic source. Christopher Columbus tried his luck even Spanish Explorer also invaded Amazon hoping to find the “pais de la canela” or cinnamon country.” Around 1518, Portuguese traders found cinnamon at Sri Lanka and conquered it island kingdom of “Kotto”, enslaving the island population and gaining control of the cinnamon trade for about a century until the Sri Lanka allied with the Dutch in 1638 to overthrow the Portuguese occupiers. The Dutch defeated the Portuguese but held the kingdom in their debt for military services, so once again Sri Lanka was conquered by European traders, handing the cinnamon monopoly over to the Dutch for the next 150 years. Sri Lanka then was taken over by British in 1784 after victory in the fourth Anglo-Dutch War, but by 1800, cinnamon was no longer an expansive, rare spice, as it had began to be cultivated in other parts of the world.
In present time we get two varieties of cinnamon: Ceylon and cassia cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is primarily produced in Indonesia and has strong smell and flavor of the two varieties and cheaper too. This is the one we generally buy from grocery stores to use for baking apple pie and making curries or French toast. On the other hand Ceylon cinnamon is expensive, milder smell, sweeter flavor. Still most of this variety gets produced from Sri Lanka. This variety is more popular for baking and flavoring hot drinks such as coffee or hot chocolate.
CULINARY USE
Cinnamons sweet flavor, milder smell and various uses makes it must have spice in any kitchen. Many people love to make cinnamon tea, in baking sweet breads or apple pie, buns, cookies, pumpkin pie and in Indian curries.
There are two choices for the spice in the kitchen, cinnamon sticks or powdered cinnamon. Sticks from the Cassia plant will be difficult to grind. Boiling or some other means usually extracts the flavor. However, true sweet cinnamon from the original Zeylanicum trees found in Ceylon will grind up more easily when purchased in quill form.
In early age cinnamon were both used to preserve meat but also to disguise tainted meat, it contains phenols, which kill the bacteria cause meat to go off, and it also has a strong sweetish smell. To some extent it serves a similar purpose in Indian food, it is used as part of the marinade in Goan famous recipe vindaloo and, in conjunction with the other spices; this will preserve meat in hot climates.
In Britain both true cinnamon and cassia have been known for many centuries but its main use has been in a sweet context; to sweeten cakes, buns and pastries although it was also used to bond sweet and savory tastes (like mince pies).
In Indian food it is used in meat and rice dishes, it is a common ingredient in garam masala and is used in some curry powders.
I always buy sticks rather than the powdered form as these last much longer; the powder will last a maximum of 6 months before it becomes pretty useless. You need to look at the packet and be sure that you are buying true cinnamon and not cassia. Also you should never use powder when a recipe calls for sticks to be used whole. If the sticks are to be ground then they should be roasted lightly before grinding to release the oils.
Cinnamon Harvesting Process
drying it under the shade…and making bunches…
Nutrition
Although their tastes can be different, true cinnamon and cassia have similar nutritional values; Vitamin K, which helps blood clotting, and Calcium, Iron and Manganese together with a few other vitamins and minerals in less significant amounts. It has dietary fibre and lots of amino acids – nearly all the important ones in fact. It is a natural antiseptic; it calms the stomach and is a digestive
It has long been known in Chinese traditional medicine as well as the Greek and Roman quacks. It was proscribed variously for coughs, dyspepsia, sore throats, indigestion and even rheumatism and other inflammations.
More recent studies (proper scientific ones) have shown that cinnamon helps with type II diabetes. The active ingredient has been extracted and shown to stimulate the insulin response, which is diminished in this type of diabetes.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have also considered cinnamon as a sacrosanct and a superpower ingredient, which is being used in the treatment of disorders, like indigestion, colds, and cramps, since ages. The therapeutic components of cinnamon are also believed to improve energy, strength and circulation of the blood. Let’s have a look at some of the surprising health benefits of this super spice.
- Blood Sugar Control: Several studies have found that cinnamon is helpful in controlling the blood sugar. It is a popular home remedy to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Candida Yeast Infections: Researchers have found out that cinnamon oil is highly effective in treating a number of strains of Candida, like Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. orthopedics. It has proved its amazing abilities in curing yeast infections that can’t be treated with medicines.
- Stomach Bug/Flu: By far, the best remedy that can cure stomach flu is cinnamon as it has strong anti-bacterial properties. It is an extremely effective antidote against Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli. Cinnamon tea, cinnamon oil and cinnamon powder, all are helpful in curing stomach bug.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome : Cinnamon radically reduces the uneasy feelings related with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, in particular, the bloating. It enables the gastric juices to work normally by killing bacteria and curing infections in the gastrointestinal area. Moreover, if you face stomach cramps and distress, a cup of cinnamon tea, 2-3 times per day, can reduce the pain to a great extent.
- Prevents Cancer: Cinnamon, in its several forms, has proven to be a great remedy in curing gastric cancers, tumours, and melanomas. Leukaemia and lymphoma cancer cells can also be mitigated by cinnamon. It contains Cinnamaldehyde and Eugenol that have proven excellent in treating cancerous cells.
- Arthritis/Osteoporosis: Cinnamon is rich in manganese, which helps in building bones, blood and other connective tissues of the body. People, who have a deficiency of this mineral, are likely to get the troubles of arthritis/osteoporosis. Massaging with cinnamon oil or drinking cinnamon tea, both are helpful in curing arthritis/osteoporosis.
- Alertness, Memory & Cognitive Development: Cinnamon is a useful condiment to keep the person more vigilant and less aggravated. Regular users of cinnamon have proved to be sharper in recalling and responding to things.
- Anti-oxidant: Cinnamon is considered to be amongst the top seven anti-oxidants in the world. It virtually repairs all the damaged body parts, from skin to organs.
- Weight Reducer: Apparently, cinnamon helps in thinning the blood and thereby, inducing blood circulation. Improved blood flow boosts the metabolic rate of the body, which is helpful in reducing the weight.
- Muscle Pain: Massaging from cinnamon oil can help in alleviating muscle pain. Add a few drops in water and dunk the aching area to get relax and quick relief.
- Anti-Fungal: The powerful anti-fungal properties of cinnamon kill the athlete’s foot-causing fungus.
- Lowering LDL Cholesterol & Triglycerides: Cinnamon helps in reducing the amount of triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in the body, thereby reducing extra fat and preventing heart diseases.
- Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Cinnamon oil is used as the main ingredient in many chewing gums, breath mints, mouthwashes, and toothpaste. The anti-bacterial properties present in cinnamon plays a vital role in chucking out harmful bacteria, without causing any damage to the teeth or gums.
- Cold, Sore Throat and Cough: Intake of cinnamon tea or cinnamon stick tea at the first sign of onset of sore throat will stop the ailment and check it from further spreading. Chinese medication generally uses and recommends cinnamon for phlegm cough.
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): Being rich in manganese, cinnamon is an excellent spice in mitigating the ill effects of PMS. It largely relieves a woman from pre-menstrual mood swings and cramps.
- Food Poisoning: Cinnamon soothes down a person suffering from food poisoning. It kills bacteria, fungus and other microbes and combats well with the troubles, caused by food poisoning.
- Infertility: Cinnamon helps the females with polycystic ovary syndrome in regularising the menstrual cycles, thus treating a type of infertility condition.
- Headache: Cinnamon tea provides a quick relief in migraine and headaches.
- Other Benefits
- It has natural anti-infectious compounds, which provide relieve from ulcers.
- It is a good remedy for several neurological diseases, like meningitis, brain tumour, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Cinnamon has great pest control ability.
- Cinnamon is an excellent anti-coagulant.
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