It is unreasonable to ask my tears
to bear the sorrow of autumn,
as the light changes
the color even of the cinnamon tree in the moon
to red and yellow
--Shuzei's daughter (late 12th century Japan)

Mute as a mouse in a
Corner the cobra lay,
Curled round a bough of the
Cinnamon tall....
Now to get even and
Humble proud heaven and
Now was the moment or
Never at all.
--Ralph Hodgson (1871-1962), British poet, in "Eve," giving a new botanic identity to the Tree of Knowledge

And still she slept an azure-lidded sleep...
While he from forth the closet brought a heap
Of candied apple, quince, and plum, and gourd;...
And lucent syrops, tinct with cinnamon....
--John Keats (1795-1821), British poet, in "The Eve of St. Agnes," where Porphyro stages an exotic vision to elope with the fair Madeline

§ Home § Search § FoodTales § Any comments?

Native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India, it is actually the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree that can grow to a height of 35 feet. After the bark is peeled from the tree, it is left to dry and ferment for a day, then the outer bark is scraped away. As the inner bark dries, it curls into its characteristic single quill. Ceylon (or true) cinnamon is tan colored with a mildly sweet flavor.

Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)--a close relative native to Malaysia and Indonesia has FDA approval to be sold in the United States as cinnamon. It is dark, reddish-brown and has a stronger, slightly bittersweet flavor. When its inner bark dries, it curls from both ends, into scrolls.

Both true cinnamon and cassia have powerfully antiseptic essential oils (think about toothpaste) help to preserve food.