Cinnamom tree
Cinnamomum bejolghota

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows between 5-25 m tall. The bark is green. The leaves are almost opposite. They are narrowly oval and 12-30 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. The flowers are small and have both sexes together. They are yellow and hairy. They are in dense panicles 13-16 cm long and in the axils of leaves. The fruit are narrowly oval and 13 mm long by 8 mm wide.

There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests between 600-1,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The aromatic leaves are used as a spice. They are used with meat and fish. The young fruit are eaten as chutney.

It is an important spice in Hainan.

Edible parts

Bark - spice, roots, leaves - spice, fruit - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Barasingoli, Dun ye gui, Hipir ayin, Kinton, Op choei, Patichanda, Phatgoli, Que la tra, Ram tezpat, Sinkauli, Tej, Tezpat, Thak-thing-suak

Synonyms

Cinnamomum bazania (Buch.-Ham.) Nees; Cinnamomum obtusifolium (Roxb.) Nees; Cinnamomum sikkimense Lukman.; Cinnamomum van-houttei Lukman.; Laurus bazabia Buch.-Ham.; Laurus bejolghota Buch.-Ham.; Laurus macrophylla Wall.; Laurus obtusifolia Roxb.;