Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 10-20 m high. It keeps its leaves during the year. The trunk can be 30-60 cm across. The bark is dark brown. The young branches can be four sided. The leaves are usually opposite. The leaf blade is oval and 11-16 cm long by 4.5-5.5 cm wide. The young leaves are red but change to pale green. They later become dark green and glossy on top but whitish underneath. The flowers are pale yellow and small. The fruit are red but turn black when mature. They are 10-15 mm long.

There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet tropical forests. It grows up to 2000 m altitude in India. It needs adequate rainfall.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Pohnpei, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka (country/location of origin), St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The bark is used raw and cooked as a spice. It is used with puddings and desserts as well as with stews, poultry, pickles and soups. The leaves are used for food flavouring. The bark and leaves yield as essential oil also used similarly for flavouring.

It is sold in markets. It is an important spice. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Bark, spice, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are usually grown from seed.

The bark is rolled into lengths about 8 cm long. The layers are paper thin. Lengths 1 m long can be used. These are ground into a pale brown powder.

Its other names

Local names

Andrembavinaveotra, Canela, Cannalavangapattai, Ceylon cinnamon, Chek tum'phka loeng, Cinnament, Dalchini, Darchini, Hazokanelina, Hmanthin, Hmn-thin, Ilayangam, Kalafulu, Kaneel, Karuva pattai, Kayu manis, Kurundu, Lavangpatti, Ob chuey, Que, Que quan, Seychelles cinnamon, Shudh dalchini, Singguithah, Singguitak, Sinkoli, Siri pori, Taj, Tamalapatra, Thi-ho-thit-kya-bo, Thing hong tlum, Thit-ja-boh-gauk, Tigamoni, Ushingsha, Usingsha, Xi lan rou gui

Synonyms

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume; Laurus cinnamomum Roxb.; and many others