Is Ceylon Cinnamon better than regular Cinnamon?

Ceylon Cinnamon also known as the true Cinnamon offers great health benefits to people who consume it. If you want to look for real Ceylon Cinnamon then you can only find it in Sri Lanka since it comes from the plant Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. Most of the general population have been mistaking cassia cinnamon for Ceylon cinnamon. The regular cinnamon available in the local markets in the United States, Australia and Asia is not ceylon cinnamon unless it is specified. Instead, it is cassia cinnamon which originates from another plant which is known as Cinnamomum cassia. It is also called Chinese cinnamon since this plant is usually found in Indonesia and China. Even though these two types of cinnamon look the similar, they differ with regards to the amount coumarin in them. You will be surprised to find out that coumarin is 250 times higher in Cassia cinnamon than in Ceylon cinnamon. As consumers it is good for the public to know that coumarin is banned in US and Europe for decades because consuming a large amount of coumarin can result in serious health issues such as kidney and liver failure. So if you consume more than half a tea spoon of cinnamon a day, it is advised to use Ceylon Cinnamon for this reason.

How do you identify Ceylon Cinnamon powder?

The distinction between Ceylon cinnamon powder and cassia cinnamon powder is not evident. Yes, you can tell them apart from the help of their different packaging, but otherwise it is really hard to know about the difference when it is in powder form. However, there are many companies that don’t indicate the type of cinnamon on their packaging. Therefore, always make sure to ask the supplier about the type of cinnamon before making a purchase.

Different ways to identify Ceylon cinnamon sticks?

As compared to Ceylon cinnamon powder, it is quite easy to identify Ceylon cinnamon sticks since there are a number of factors that help in telling apart between the cassia cinnamon sticks and Ceylon cinnamon sticks.

• Ceylon cinnamon sticks have a thin and smooth texture which looks like multiple layers of paper are rolled up together whereas cassia cinnamon sticks have an uneven thick texture.
• Ceylon cinnamon sticks are tan-brown in colour whereas, the cassia cinnamon sticks have a reddish dark brown colour.
• Ceylon cinnamon sticks can be easily broken whereas cassia cinnamon sticks, and it is almost impossible to break them, and you will need an electric grinder to convert the stick into powder.
• Both these cinnamon sticks are different in taste. Ceylon cinnamon sticks are sweet in taste however the cassia cinnamon sticks have a full-bodied taste and can be used in different meat recipes.
• Ceylon cinnamon sticks come from Sri Lanka, whereas the cassia cinnamon sticks are originated from China.
• Ceylon cinnamon sticks will be more expensive as compared to cassia cinnamon sticks since it is a highly valued medicinal and culinary spice.

Storage tips for Ceylon cinnamon

Just like other common spices, Ceylon cinnamon is also prone to lose its colour and fragrance as time passes by. If you want to make sure that your Ceylon cinnamon remains in a good condition for a long time then these storage tips will prove to be useful for you. If you have Ceylon cinnamon powder or sticks then make sure that you store them in an airtight bottle. The airtight bottles must be kept in a cool place and should not be exposed to sunlight, heat or moisture. Don’t store these bottles in a rack above the stove or near the window since it will be exposed to heat and sunlight which is not good for Ceylon cinnamon. You can refrigerate the Ceylon cinnamon if it is an airtight bottle. It is important to know that the shelf life of ground cinnamon is two years and that of stored cinnamon is four years.

Ceylon cinnamon comes along with a variety of more benefits. Consuming real Ceylon cinnamon can help you in staying healthy. You should make it a part of your everyday diet since it has a lot of benefits to offer you.