Cinnamon is an aromatic and flavorful spice that can add a world of deliciousness to any dish if used properly. Cinnamon Bun, Cinnamon Tea, Banana Bread, Paneer Makhani, and Chole Masala are just some of the mouth-watering sweet and savory dishes that are enhanced by adding Cinnamon to them.
Hence we’re here to learn a lot more about the aromatic spice and how you should use it.
Origin Story:
Cultivated from the plant Cinnamomum Verum, the usage of cinnamon can be traced back to 2800 B.C. in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese discovered it in the 16th century as the European nations were venturing out of their homeland in search of spices.
They started importing it back home and this continued till the 17th century. Around the same time, the Dutch had started cultivating the spice and provided a more accessible route of import for the Europeans. This was also the time the East India Company took over and started the distribution of all the spices coming from India and its neighboring countries straight to Europe.
To this day, cinnamon is still produced in Sri Lanka and many regions of South India.
Types Of Cinnamon:
There are two major varieties of cinnamon available in the market; namely Ceylon and Cassia. Cassia is the one that is widely distributed as it’s the cheaper alternative that provides equally good flavor. It is darker in color, has a bark-like structure, and not as intense as its expensive counterpart.
Ceylon is a more pure form of cinnamon that is much lighter in color and extremely intense. It looks more like a bunch of paper that’s rolled together. It has an extremely intense flavor and hence is a lot more expensive as even a little amount of it is enough to flavor the dish. Either of these types of cinnamon can be bought in different forms like ground cinnamon, chips, and whole sticks.
Health Benefits:
Studies have shown that cinnamon has several health benefits. These include anesthetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and anti-viral properties. Studies also show that cinnamon is an important healing agent.
Usage:
This spice can be used in many different ways. It can be used like a condiment or a topping. As a flavoring material in your curries, biryanis, and baked foods. It can also be used to season many other types of Indian recipes and bread-based dishes like lentil soups, Banana Bread, Apple Cinnamon Pie, Cinnamon Buns, and many more.
You can also use cinnamon as a substitute for cardamom, nutmeg, and any other spice that possess strong and aromatic flavors.
That’s all for now. Hope this has helped you better understand this dynamic spice and we have encouraged you to incorporate it more in your day-to-day cooking.
Add cinnamon to your spice rack and have a flavorful experience! You can visit our website to check out Cinnamon Powder and Cinnamon Stick.
