Indian cassia, Indian bark, Cassia leaves
Cinnamomum tamala

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 15 m high. The bark is dark brown and wrinkled. The leaves are rounded at the base and taper to a tip. Leaves are 7.5-20 cm long by 3.5-6.5 cm wide. They are oval and long pointed. They are shiny above and pink when young. The flowers are yellow and hairy. The fruit are 1 cm long. They are fleshy with a stone inside. They are black when ripe.

There are about 250 Cinnamomum species. The dried bark is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal between 500-2000 m altitude. It grows on moist slopes of forested land. In India it grows between 800-1,600 m altitude usually in deep valleys. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The bark and leaves are dried and used as spices in curries. They are also added to tea for flavour. The leaves are used as a substitute for Betel leaf and bay leaf.

The young leaves are sold in markets. They are important in Bangladesh. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, bark, spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed or shoot cuttings. Fresh seed are soaked in water overnight before sowing. Shoot cuttings 15-20 cm long can be used. Using rooting hormone helps. Seedlings can be transplanted after 1 year. Trees last 70-80 years. Leaves can be collected after 5-10 years.

Its other names

Local names

Dalchini, Dieng-la-tyrpad, Dong-sumsor, Faresom, Kinken esing, Kokheisii, Lepu, Maza, Pinge, Rapi esing, Shing-nam, Shing-tsa, Siisitou, Sinkauli, Sinkoli, Taj, Talishappattiri, Talispatri, Tamalaka, Tamalapatra, Tegrapatra, Tejpaat, Tejpat, Tejpata, Tejpatra, Tejput, Tesh patta, Texpat, Thikya-bo, Thingthal, Thitchabo, Thit-kya-poe

Synonyms

Cinnamomum albiflorum Nees; Cinnamomum cassia D. Don [Illegitimate]; Cinnamomum lindleyi Lukman.; Cinnamomum reinwardtii Nees; Cinnamomum veitchii Lukman.; Laurus albiflora Wallich; Laurus soncaurium Ham.; Laurus sailyana Ham.; Laurus tamala Buch.-Ham.;