Cinnamon is one of the most beloved spices in the world. From warm apple pie to savory stews: the sweet, spicy flavor of cinnamon adds depth and character to countless dishes. But what exactly is cinnamon? Where does it come from? And what about the health claims surrounding this spice?

In this blog we dive into the origin, composition and possible effects of cinnamon.

What is cinnamon?

Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of the cinnamon tree, an evergreen tree from the laurel family. The best-known species is Cinnamomum zeylanicum, also called Ceylon cinnamon. This tree originally comes from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), but is now cultivated in several tropical regions.

Besides Ceylon cinnamon there is another commonly used type: Cinnamomum cassia. This variant, often simply called “cassia,” is mainly produced in China and Indonesia.

The production of cinnamon is remarkable. The outer bark of young branches is removed, after which the inner bark loosens. During drying it naturally curls