Cinnamon

Scientific name: Cinnamomum verum

 

Cinnamon image

 

About this spice

A member of the same family (Lauraceae) as bay, the cinnamon tree also can reach heights of 30 feet or more. The spice you know as cinnamon comes from the bark of the tree, and the best cinnamon comes from the pale bark of young shoots. The bark is stripped and dried, after which it curls into “quills.” Ground cinnamon is best bought in small quantities, as the spice loses its flavor quickly.

 

How to use this spice

Cinnamon has a sweet flavor and a distinct aroma that you probably associate with dessert. In addition to many Middle Eastern and North African dishes, you can use cinnamon to flavor creams, chocolate, cakes and baked goods, puddings, and fruit desserts.

 

Spice trivia

You know that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. But did you know that he was looking for cinnamon? Columbus and other explorers set out to find a direct sea route to the “spice lands.” Among others, cinnamon was one of the principal spices that motivated this exploration in the 15th Century. In addition, cinnamon, one of the first known spices, has been used for everything from embalming to mouthwash.