Cassia, Chinese cinnamon, Cassia bark
Cinnamomum cassia

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree 5-15 m tall. The bark is thicker and darker in colour than cinnamon as the corky outer bark is still attached. The bark is 13 mm thick. The small branches are angular. They have lines along them. The leaves are alternate or almost opposite. They are narrowly oval and 8-16 cm long by 4-5.5 cm wide. They can be larger. The fruit is oval and 10 mm long by 7-8 mm wide. The bark is more coarse than Cinnamomum verum. It has larger leaves than camphor laurel.

There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows close to the coast. It grows in tropical regions in southern China. It is best in rich moist soils. It is cultivated in borders areas between China and Vietnam. Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Cuba, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The bark is used as a spice. It is used in drinks and sweets. It is used as a substitute for cinnamon. It also yields an essential oil. These are used to flavour curries, confectionary, drinks, baked goods, chewing gum, and condiments. The cassia buds of the unripe fruit are dried and used as a flavouring. The immature fruit or cassia buds are used to flavour breads, cakes, chocolate and pickles.

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Bark, spice, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Cassia, Chheu aem, Chinese cassia, Chinese cinnamon tree, Davulkurundu, False cinnamon, Flesh Cassia, Kayu manis china, Kuda-dawula, Massoia, Pohon kayumanis cina,Que, Que don, Rou gui, Rougui, Sambao lvaeng, Wal-kurudu

Synonyms

Camphorina cassia (Nees & T. Nees) Farw.; Cinnamomum aromaticum Nees; Cinnamomum cassia (L.) D. Don; Cinnamomum longifolium Lukman.; Cinnamomum medium Lukman; Laurus cassia L.; Laurus cassia C.G. & Th. Nees [Invalid]; Laurus malabathrum Reinw. ex Nees; Neolitsea cassia (L.) Kosterm.; Persea cassia (L.) Spreng.; Laurus cinnamomum Andr.; ?