Cinnamon Bark

What is Cinnamon Bark

Cassia cinnamon bark, which most people know as cinnamon, comes from the Cinnamomum cassia tree. It’s commonly ground into powder or used whole for culinary purposes. Cassia cinnamon is cheaper and has a stronger hot ‘n’ spicy flavour than verum cinnamon. 

Types of Cinnamon

Is cassia bark the same as true cinnamon bark?

True cinnamon bark and cassia bark are often confused because they’re related botanically and flavour-wise, but they’re not the same.

• True cinnamon bark typically refers to Cinnamomum verum trees (also known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum), native to Sri Lanka. True cinnamon, or Ceylon cinnamon, has a lighter, tan-brown colour and contains many tight sticks with soft layers. It’s more expensive and has a more delicate flavour than cassia cinnamon bark.
• Cassia Bark, comes from Cinnamomum cassia (also called Cinnamomum aromaticum). It’s native to Indonesia and is the most common type of cinnamon sold in Australia and many parts of the world. Cassia is generally a dark brown-red with thicker sticks and a rougher texture than cinnamon bark. Its strong aroma and hot and spicy flavour makes it highly desirable for cooking, baking and brewing into tea.

Nutritionally, both types of cinnamon contain cinnamaldehyde, giving them a similar flavour and health benefits. However, cassia contains higher levels of coumarin, which can be harmful in large doses.

How to Use Cinnamon

Uses of Cinnamon Bark for Health and Cooking

• Health: Cassia cinnamon bark is known for its potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to help regulate blood sugar levels. However, it should be consumed in moderation due to the presence of coumarin.
• Cooking: Cassia cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavour to meals. It’s used in sweet dishes like pies and pastries and savoury dishes like Moroccan tagines, Indian curries, and Middle Eastern rice cuisine.

Chewing Cinnamon Bark

Traditionally, chewing cinnamon bark has been helpful for people wanting to quit or reduce smoking.

• Chewing cinnamon bark can help some people reduce the urge to smoke by keeping their mouths busy.
• Using a cinnamon stick, you can mimic the hand-to-mouth action of smoking.
• The strong flavour of cinnamon can also provide a sensory distraction that might lessen the craving for a cigarette.

How to Make Cinnamon Tea

Preparation: Add a cinnamon stick to your teapot or boil in water for 15-20 minutes. This infusion can be enjoyed alone or with additional herbs, spices and sweeteners.

Versatility: A cinnamon stick can be reused several times until it loses its flavour. It’s a great addition to hot beverages like herbal tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate, and it can add a festive flavour to mulled wine.

Cinnamon Bark in Recipes

• Soups and Stews: Cinnamon bark imparts a subtle flavour that’s released over time, making it perfect for slow-cooked dishes like soups, stews, and broths.
• Rice Dishes: Whole cinnamon sticks are often included in the pot when cooking rice, particularly in dishes like biryani or pilaf, as they infuse the rice with a fragrant aroma.
• Beverages: Besides mulled wine and tea, cinnamon sticks are used in traditional Mexican hot chocolate and can be a stirrer that adds flavour to drinks.
• Cinnamon Powder: Has many more applications in the kitchen.

Cinnamon Bark Supplement

Cassia is not the ideal variety of cinnamon to use daily as a health supplement. It’s most suitable for slow-cooking or being ground into powder.

Cinnamon Bark Benefits For Health

Is cinnamon bark good for you?

Cinnamon bark is good for you, but too much cassia cinnamon can be unhealthy. Stick to half a teaspoon of powder a day or less. 

Cinnamon Benefits for Skin

Cinnamon has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which can benefit the skin. It can also help treat acne by reducing inflammation and fighting bacteria.

Cinnamon Bark for Diabetes

One of the most well-studied benefits of cinnamon is its effect on blood sugar control, which is crucial for managing diabetes. Compounds in cinnamon have been found to mimic insulin and may help in lowering blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon Bark for Weight Loss

Cinnamon may play a supportive role in weight loss by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, which can reduce sugar cravings and improve insulin sensitivity. Additionally, its thermogenic properties could slightly boost metabolism.

Cinnamon Bark and Pregnancy

Pregnant women are often advised to be cautious with their intake of cinnamon. While small amounts, such as those used in cooking, are generally considered safe, larger doses or the use of cinnamon supplements may not be safe.

Buy Cinnamon Australia

When you buy cinnamon bark, you unlock a world of spicy flavours that enrich your culinary creations with its deep, spicy warmth. Cassia cinnamon is ideal for everything from cooking to natural remedies to helping reduce smoking cravings. However, enjoying it in moderation is advisable due to its coumarin content. 

How to Harvest Cinnamon Bark?

Our cinnamon is sustainably wild-harvested from Sumatra’s lush forests, allowing the trees to thrive and be harvested multiple times. This eco-friendly approach supports a vibrant ecosystem and biodiversity. 

Choosing Empathy Herbal’s organic cinnamon bark means you enjoy a premium, sustainably sourced spice while supporting conservation. Your choice promotes ethical farming practices, helping preserve the area’s unique ecosystem.