Cinnamon is a medium-sized tree with gray-brown bark. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from October to December. It can be propagated through suckers, cuttings, and seeds. The bark of cinnamon is commonly used as a spice, cooking ingredient, and medicinal herb.
Also known as Chinese cinnamon, Yujin, and Mugui.
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Flavor: Spicy, Sweet; Nature: Hot
Class: Eudicots
Order: Laurales
What is Cinnamon?
Source: Cinnamon is the dried bark of the plant Cinnamomum verum. It is harvested by scraping the bark and then drying it in a sunny place or grinding it into cinnamon powder for sale.
Color: Cinnamon can be reddish-brown or light reddish-brown, primarily due to the thickness of the bark when harvested, resulting in variations in color.
Origin: The main production areas of cinnamon in China are Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian. Other countries such as India, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia also have significant cinnamon production.
Flavor: Spicy, Sweet; Nature: Hot.
Uses: It can be used as both a medicinal herb and a seasoning.
Cinnamon extracts include cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and eugenol.
Differences Between Cinnamon and Cassia
Different Applications
Cassia is mostly used in cooking, while cinnamon is primarily used in medicine to treat diseases. Cinnamon can be used in slices or powdered form, with cinnamon powder mainly used for its heart-strengthening and digestive properties, while cinnamon can be used in soups, stir-fries, and to eliminate odors. Thus, their applications differ significantly.
Different Appearances
Both cinnamon and cassia belong to the Lauraceae family, but cassia has thicker and rougher bark, and its color appears darker.
Different Functions
Cinnamon is associated with the Kidney, Spleen, Heart, and Liver meridians, and its main functions include promoting blood circulation, alleviating coldness in the lower back and knees, treating kidney deficiency with shortness of breath, vomiting, and dizziness due to Yang deficiency. In contrast, cassia is effective for treating wind-cold, rheumatism, blood stasis, and vomiting, indicating some functional differences.
Different Components
While both cinnamon and cassia contain cinnamaldehyde, their concentrations differ. Cassia also contains eugenol, which is absent in cinnamon, while cinnamon extracts contain cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, which cassia does not.
Differences Between Cinnamon and Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon is the dried bark of the Cinnamomum verum plant, while cinnamon tea refers to a variety of tea, such as the Niulan Keng cinnamon, which is a type of oolong tea processed to have a strong cinnamon aroma.
Different Consumption Methods
Cinnamon can be used as a medicinal herb, seasoning, or spice, enhancing flavor and aroma. In contrast, cinnamon tea is primarily consumed as a brewed beverage, with few other consumption methods.
Different Forms
Cinnamon appears as reddish-brown chunks due to its bark, while cinnamon powder is also reddish-brown. Cinnamon tea consists of dried tea leaves processed from fresh tea plants, with Wuyi cinnamon having a compact, twisted appearance and a dark color.
Different Effects
Cinnamon’s main effects include enhancing flavor, removing odors, and having some preservative properties. Cinnamon tea primarily serves to refresh the mind, improve cognitive function, and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties due to its high content of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and theobromine, providing health benefits.
Effects and Benefits of Cinnamon
Enhances Brain Function
Cinnamon extracts contain significant amounts of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, which can improve brain function and enhance memory and attention. Additionally, cinnamon may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and can help alleviate headaches.
Good for the Heart
Cinnamon is associated with the Kidney, Spleen, Heart, and Liver meridians and has warming properties that can help reduce the greasiness of food. By alleviating the greasiness, cinnamon can help prevent heart disease caused by high fat intake, making it beneficial for heart health.
Helps with Weight Loss
Cinnamon is spicy and sweet, with a hot nature that can boost metabolism and regulate blood sugar levels. Consuming small amounts of cinnamon along with regular exercise can aid in weight loss.
Improves Digestive Health
Cinnamon is beneficial for digestive health. Adding a small amount of cinnamon to soups can enhance flavor and help prevent indigestion, acid reflux, and diarrhea. Cinnamon oil can also be used for its effects of dispelling wind and dampness and warming the Spleen and Stomach.
Has Beauty Benefits
Cinnamon can help eliminate acne, prevent fine lines and wrinkles, and combat skin infections, making it beneficial for beauty. When experiencing acne, consuming cinnamon powder can provide relief.
Does Cinnamon Really Lower Blood Sugar?
Cinnamon can lower blood sugar but should only be used as an adjunct treatment.
Cinnamon promotes insulin secretion and helps clear cholesterol from the blood, thus having a certain effect on lowering blood sugar and blood lipids, especially after meals. However, cinnamon has not been clinically established as a blood sugar-lowering medication, so its use should be considered an adjunct treatment. Patients with high blood sugar should consult their doctor regarding the use of cinnamon based on their individual constitution.
Contraindications for Cinnamon Consumption
1. Those with Yin deficiency and excessive heat should avoid cinnamon.
Cinnamon is a warming herb, so individuals with a naturally hot constitution should not consume it, as it may exacerbate symptoms and conflict with the herb’s properties, which is not good for health.
2. Pregnant women and children should use caution.
Pregnant women and children should not consume cinnamon lightly due to their special constitutions, as cinnamon is a hot food that may cause adverse symptoms if consumed improperly.
3. Patients with bleeding disorders and women during menstruation should avoid cinnamon.
Women experience increased blood flow during menstruation, and those with bleeding disorders have weak blood coagulation. Cinnamon has the effect of harmonizing and tonifying blood, so its consumption may increase menstrual flow and worsen conditions for those with bleeding disorders.
What Should Not Be Eaten with Cinnamon?
1. Cinnamon should not be used with talc.
Talc contains a high amount of silicate, which can absorb the active components of cinnamon, reducing its efficacy.
2. It should not be used with senna leaves.
Cinnamon is spicy and hot, while senna leaves are sweet and bitter, cold in nature. Using these two herbs together can conflict in flavor and significantly reduce efficacy, potentially causing adverse effects.
3. It should not be eaten with raw onions.
Consuming cinnamon with raw onions can easily lead to internal heat, so it is generally not recommended to combine them.
How to Consume Cinnamon Effectively
Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients: Cinnamon powder, high-gluten flour, butter, eggs, powdered sugar.
Method:
1. Add an appropriate amount of water and egg liquid to the high-gluten flour, knead until smooth, and let it rise for one hour.
2. After the dough has risen, punch it down, roll it into a ball, and let it rise again for 15 minutes.
3. Roll the dough into a 1cm thick sheet, then spread softened butter, cinnamon powder, and powdered sugar on top.
4. Brush a thin layer of egg white on the dough, then sprinkle the filling on top.
5. Preheat the oven to 180°C for 10 minutes, then bake for 25-30 minutes.
6. Finally, sprinkle a small amount of powdered sugar on top to make the cinnamon rolls sweeter.
Lamb Cinnamon Soup
Ingredients: Cinnamon, lamb, lamb bones, ginger slices, chopped green onions, salt.
Method:
1. First, blanch the lamb and lamb bones, adding ginger slices and cooking wine to remove the odor.
2. After blanching, wash the lamb and bones, cutting them into evenly sized pieces for later use.
3. Break the cinnamon into pieces and soak in water for 5 minutes.
4. Add the soaked lamb and bones to the water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for 1 hour.
5. Before serving, add a small amount of cinnamon powder for extra aroma.
6. Finally, add chopped green onions and salt for seasoning, and it is ready to serve.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Tea
Ingredients: Cinnamon, brown sugar, hawthorn flesh.
Method:
1. Rinse the cinnamon and hawthorn flesh with clean water and drain.
2. In a small saucepan, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the cinnamon and hawthorn flesh.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add brown sugar and cook until dissolved.
4. Drinking hot cinnamon brown sugar tea can effectively relieve abdominal bloating during menstruation.