Japanese cinnamon
Cinnamomum japonicum

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 10-15 m tall. The branches are smooth and brown. The leaves are almost opposite. They are oval to sword shaped and 7-10 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped. The flowers are small and have both sexes. They are hairy. They are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The groups are 3-5 cm long. The fruit are oblong and 7 mm long by 5 mm wide.

An illegitimate name. Different authorities Siebold and also as Siebold ex Nakai

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in forests at 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The bark is used as a substitute for cinnamon and cassia in flavouring foods. The fruit are used as a substitute for cacao beans. The seed oil is used for flavouring.

Edible parts

Bark - spice, fruit - flavouring, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Shan-kuei, Yabu-nikkei

Synonyms

Cinnamomum japonicum var. chekiangense (Nakai) M. B. Deng & G. Yao; Cinnamomum pedunculatum Nees;