Despite the end of the Vietnam trade embargo in 1994, most store-brand cinnamon is a far cry from the real stuff. Commercially available ground cinnamon – almost always the Indonesian Korintje variety – is often mixed with fillers.
Cinnamon appears to help lower LDL and overall cholesterol levels without affecting "good" HDL cholesterol significantly. Finally, cinnamon also seems to have benefits for people with insulin resistance or diabetes. Studies show that regularly consuming cinnamon can help your body's natural response to insulin.
Ceylon, on the other hand, is “true” cinnamon that is sourced from Sri Lanka, Madagascar and the Seychelles. Typically more expensive, Ceylon has a lighter, brighter and spicier flavor than cassia cinnamon. The good news: it has 63 times LESS coumarin than cassia so it is safer to use, especially in large quantities.
Yes, there are differences in cinnamon, and it is worth buying a few brands to see which one you prefer. But once you bake it in a cookie, stew it in a tagine or sprinkle it on toast, you will be unlikely to notice the difference.
Ceylon cinnamon is the healthier of the two types and the more expensive. It has a milder flavor than cassia cinnamon because it contains less cinnamaldehyde, the essential oil compound that gives cinnamon its distinctive taste and flavor.
Look for true cinnamon to be more tan-brown in color, as opposed to the reddish-brown hue of cassia. And if you open the package and find a smell that's not exactly pungent, that's a good thing. True cinnamon is delicate and sweet, creating a subtle flavor while not overpowering the rest of your ingredients.
While cinnamon tea can be beneficial for your overall health, it may not be a good tea to consume large amounts of on a daily basis. This is because a specific compound in Cassia cinnamon called coumarin may be hepatotoxic, or toxic to the liver.
Consuming normal amounts of cinnamon isn't likely to have a big impact on your health. It's not a good idea to eat a lot of it either. Because cinnamon is unproven as a treatment, there isn't a set dose. Some experts suggest 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-4 grams) of powder a day.
Are organic spices better? Yes! Organically grown spices are better much than spices that are grown with chemicals and pesticides. Organic spices are grown without chemicals and preservatives and are not fumigated or irradiated.
Ceylon cinnamon may be unsafe for use during pregnancy if consumed in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods. Little is known about whether it's safe to use Ceylon cinnamon during breastfeeding in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods.
To produce the most valuable cinnamon, the bark must be made extremely thin. The thinner the quills are, the more costly they will be.
What's to know about cinnamon powder? Cinnamon may be good for weight loss. Other possible health benefits include controlling blood glucose levels and improving various health conditions. Cinnamon powder comes from the bark of tropical, evergreen trees.
First, the simplest way to tell if your cinnamon is true cinnamon is to check the label. If it says simply “cinnamon” or “cassia,” then you're not dealing with the real stuff here, ladies. In fact, cassia is actually a species similar to true cinnamon, in the same botanical family, but is just tree bark.
This said, the recommended daily intake of cinnamon is much lower. Per WebMD, a daily intake of ½ to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon per day is the limit, per some experts.
The best time of day to take cinnamon supplements is generally with a meal or snack, so you're getting those potent compounds along with some food. Got questions about the best Cinnamon supplement for you? Be sure to check in with your healthcare professional for advice.
Ceylon cinnamon – this contains only trace amounts of coumarin, so can be consumed in larger amounts of up to 5g (2.5tsp) a day.
While both types of cinnamon have a sweet and warm flavor, ground cinnamon has a more intense and slightly bitter taste. This is because the flavor compounds in cinnamon are concentrated in the bark, and grinding the bark into a powder releases more of these compounds.
Cassia cinnamon sticks are one thick, firm layer of bark, rolled up, whereas Ceylon is several thin, soft layers of bark rolled together.
According to some recent research, you can use Ceylon cinnamon for weight loss and treating other complications of metabolic syndrome (2), (3). This article discusses how cinnamon, apart from its culinary uses, helps in weight loss, dosage, recipes, and benefits.
In mild cases, this leads to an increase of liver enzymes in the blood. In severe cases, it results in inflammation of the liver which can manifest as jaundice. The precise mechanism leading to these symptoms is not known. However, the effects are usually reversible.
If you're baking, Korintje (Indonesian) cinnamon is the best choice. It's the sweetest of the cinnamons, so its flavor lends itself happily to baked goods. Saigon (Vietnamese) cinnamon has an aggressive flavor, so it's great for savory applications.