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Where Does Cinnamon Come From? Easily Explained

Cinnamon – that’s where the aromatic spice comes from

Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices and hundreds of years ago cinnamon was also one of the most precious spices.

  • Seafarers brought spice to Europe in the 14th century. China, cinnamon is said to have been known in China since 3,000 BC. Cinnamon is said to have been used in particular in ancient Chinese medicine.
  • In ancient Greece, as well as later in the Roman Empire, cinnamon was primarily used as a health-promoting agent. In addition, spice, which was extremely expensive at the time, like vanilla, was also used as a kind of status symbol.
  • Originally, cinnamon was obtained exclusively from the bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree. Several very thin layers are peeled off the bark and then rolled up into a stick. Blossoms of the tree are also used for seasoning. To this day, Ceylon cinnamon is considered the most valuable and healthiest cinnamon.
  • Cinnamon oil is obtained from the leaves and small branches of the Ceylon cinnamon tree. The essential oils are not only good for your health, but they also produce the typical cinnamon taste.
  • Due to the increased demand worldwide, spice is now being grown on huge plantations. However, these are often the not-so-high-quality cinnamon cassia trees.
  • However, the cinnamon cassia obtained from it, which is also often referred to as Chinese cinnamon, is suspected of being harmful to health.

Cinnamon and health – you should pay attention to that

If you want to do something good for your health, only use real Ceylon cinnamon. The cheap cinnamon very often contains high concentrations of coumarin.

  • Coumarin, in turn, can not only lead to headaches and discomfort. Eating too much coumarin can lead to liver inflammation and even severe liver damage. There is also a suspicion that coumarin is carcinogenic.
  • For this reason, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the consumer centers warn against eating too many cheap cinnamon-based Christmas cookies. The detected contamination with coumarin was sometimes alarmingly high.
  • Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, was not only said to have health-promoting properties in the past. Cinnamon is still used in medicine today.
  • Cinnamon, for example, is said to have an anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effect on osteoarthritis.
  • The spice is also said to regulate blood fat levels and lower blood sugar. However, the extent to which the effect of cinnamon is really health-promoting is still being investigated.
  • In any case, cinnamon contains many healthy minerals, such as iron and magnesium, calcium and potassium, and manganese.
  • Cinnamon also contains a high concentration of essential oils, numerous antioxidants, and secondary plant substances.
  • Due to its ingredients, cinnamon has also been hailed as a fat burner for quite some time. In order for the pounds to tumble, however, you must consume at least one gram of cinnamon per day. It’s easy to do, of course, but don’t rely on just a little cinnamon to help you lose weight at breakneck speed.
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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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