It is easy to forget the influence of cinnamon in world history. Nowadays, cinnamon is nothing more than a cheap spice used in cakes, pies, and other desserts. But there was a time cinnamon was as expensive as gold, if not more. You can buy cinnamon for a penny nowadays. It was cinnamon what lured explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Columbus to travel around the world.
Traded around the world since before the 1500s, cinnamon is widely regarded as the oldest known spice. Indonesian sailors began trading cinnamon to Madagascar and the east coast of Africa in the first century.
But while the spice has been subject of trade in the 1500s, its history dates back to the Egyptians. Back in Ancient Egypt, people used cinnamon in their embalming mixtures, and it was also used by Moses as an anointing oil. Nowadays, cinnamon is also recognized as a medicine as well, and can be used to relieve upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, stimulate appetite, enhance digestion, and reduce pain of minor cuts.
How is cinnamon harvested?
Cinnamon is harvested during the rainy season when the bark easily lifts of the tree and the red flush of the young leaves turns to green. Workers use a small knife to ease off the inner bark into strips that are about one meter long. After that, the bark is dried and curls naturally into quills.
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- One 2.5 ounce bottle of Ground Cinnamon
- Versatile, rich, and warm, cinnamon is a classic in baked goods. Try it also in savory dishes, or sprinkled onto a hot beverage
- Store in a cool, dry place
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Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading exporters of cinnamon. The country produces four-fifth of the cinnamon used internationally. The link between the spice and the country is so huge, that the name of the spice is actually derived from the island’s former name. The botanical name of the spice is Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which is derived from the former name of the island, Ceylon.
The process starts with cinnamon peelers, who go to the fields every morning to collect branches to be striped for bark. The plant grows as a bush, and workers bring back branches of cinnamon ready for processing. Then, cinnamon is peeled, with cinnamon peelers usually paid one third of the value of the finished spice they produce. That is the reason why most young children do not want to learn the technique.
Rank #2
- KITCHEN STAPLE: McCormick Ground Cinnamon is aged up to 15 years for richer flavor, delivering consistent flavor in cooking and baking.
- VERSATILE SPICE: Cinnamon is traditionally thought of a key ingredient in baking but is also complementary to many savory flavors and dishes, especially grilling rubs, butternut squash, and curry.
- FLAVOR PROFILE: Cinnamon creates a sweet warmth and spicy aroma that is often associated with holidays and comforting, nostalgic moments in the kitchen.
- SO MANY USES: From breakfast through dessert, there are so many ways to enjoy cinnamon, including sprinkling over oatmeal, cinnamon toast, coffee, cocktails, and more.
- HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Cinnamon is a must for holiday baking, like gingerbread cookies, pumpkin pie, and cinnamon rolls.
Bashing the bark is the next step, with workers bashing the bark off twigs from cinnamon bushes. This will be used to make cinnamon oil.
How spices shaped history
The history of spices, and with that, the history of cinnamon, is almost as old as human civilization. Spices represent a history of lands discovered, empires built, empires brought down, wars won and lost, and much more.
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Rank #3
- Deep, sweet, warm flavor and rich mahogany color
- Versatile spice for sweet and savory dishes
- Aged up to 15 years for rich flavor
- Premium quality for pure, superior flavor; never made with added fillers
- Non GMO
As mentioned previously, the use of cinnamon dates back as long as 3500 BC, by the ancient Egyptians. They used spices for flavoring food, cosmetics, and for embalming their dead.
Spices rise to prominence and popularity in the 15th century during the Age of Exploration. They were the main reason why explorers left Europe and were searching for new land. The search for a cheaper way to obtain spices from the East led to the great Age of Exploration, and the discovery of the New World. Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and Bartholomeu Dias embarked on a journey and voyage to discover a sea route to the sources of spices. It was Vasco da Gama who found a sea route to the southern tip of Africa, eventually reaching India in 1498.
Rank #4
- SWEET CINNAMON FLAVOR: Ground cinnamon powder made of culinary-grade korintje cinnamon for an earthy flavor and warm, sweet aroma; fine texture lets you blend the taste of cinnamon spice into liquids and other ingredients for flavor-packed menu items
- HIGH QUALITY: Deliver pure, consistent flavor and craft signature dishes and drinks; chefs can bring the beloved, authentic flavors of korintje cinnamon to any kitchen; contains only premium cinnamon for the best results
- MADE FOR CHEFS: Large 18-ounce container of ground cinnamon comes ready to use for convenient back-of-house recipe customization; buying cinnamon powder in bulk helps you stay cut costs, reduce reordering frequency and meet customer demand
- VERSATILE SPICE: Perfect for warming up desserts, hot beverages, meat or poultry-based dishes and more; use to bake pies, custards and cookies, season savory recipes, or create unique meat rubs for lamb, chicken and pork
- FEEL GOOD INGREDIENTS: Made with only one ingredient - cinnamon; use kosher cinnamon for confident seasoning across your menu; allows you to enliven your dishes while adhering to your patrons' diet requirements and preferences
During the Middle Age, spices were just as valuable. They were valuable in Europe as gold and gems, and were the single most important force driving the world’s economy. Poor standards of hygiene and lack of refrigeration meant that food spoiled quickly. Because of that, spices were in great demand to mask the flavor of food that was far from fresh. The competition among European nations for control of the spice trade was the driving force behind the colonization of India and other Asian lands.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- RESTAURANT QUALITY: McCormick Culinary Ground Cinnamon is a culinary-grade, pure ground cinnamon perfect for use in restaurants and bakeries; this finely ground cinnamon spice comes in 18-ounce containers, so you'll always have plenty on hand
- ROBUST FLAVOR: This ground cinnamon powder has a sweet and warm flavor and a beautiful, earthy color; as one of the oldest spices, cinnamon appears in both sweet and savory recipes from around the world
- CAREFULLY SOURCED: McCormick Culinary Ground Cinnamon is carefully sourced from a controlled global supply chain to ensure you receive a spice that delivers consistent, pure flavor; each plastic bottle includes a shrink wrap seal
- SOURCED FOR CHEFS: Tailored to the needs of culinary professionals, McCormick Culinary Ground Cinnamon helps inspire menus and bring warmth to dishes all year round; this pure cinnamon contains no added sugar or MSG for balanced flavor
- MENU VERSATILITY: You can use McCormick Culinary Ground Cinnamon as your go-to cinnamon in a variety of recipes; chefs most commonly use this spice when baking cookies, cakes, custards, pies and puddings
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