Product descriptions
The beneficial effects of cinnamon
Many people only know cinnamon as a delicious, fragrant herb, but it is also a health booster.
Folk medicine, for example, counts it as a natural antiseptic, bactericide, fungicide and antiviral.
It can also help to maintain blood sugar levels by lowering them.
It has a good effect on the metabolism and supports fat burning.
When dieting, it is advisable to eat foods with which cinnamon goes well (e.g. porridge, fruit). As it prevents fluctuations in blood sugar levels, it practically eliminates the hunger pangs that occur in such situations, gives a feeling of fullness in the stomach and eliminates bloating.
Kitchen uses of cinnamon
It can be used to flavour fruit soups, jams and compotes, apple, cherry and sour cherry cakes, strudels, sweet fillings, creams, gingerbread, doughnuts and dairy dishes. It can also be an excellent seasoning for some roasts.
It has a very strong aroma and does not lose its flavour during cooking and boiling.
However, excessive consumption of cinnamon should be avoided, as its constituents eugenol and coumarin can irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines.
What is different about Ceylon cinnamon?
There are two forms of cinnamon available in Hungary, one based on Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia, C. aromaticum) and the other on the more expensive Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum verum).
The properties of cinnamon from the two trees are different
- in their scent,
- coumarin* content. The bark of the Chinese cinnamon tree contains 0.1-0.44% coumarin, whereas the Ceylon bark contains only trace amounts of this compound.
- In terms of the thickness of the bark pieces, while Ceylon cinnamon is 0.2-0.8 mm thick, Chinese cinnamon is 1-3 mm thick.
What is coumarin?
A compound that affects blood clotting and liver function.
"In Europe, several countries' food safety agencies have capped the coumarin content of certain foods. A daily consumption of 2 g of Cinnamomi cassiae cortex containing 0.3% coumarin per day will just reach the recommended maximum intake of 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight for a 60 kg person."(source:Pharmacy, October 2008)
Cinnamon tree characteristics
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, 8-10 m tall, with a densely branched trunk. In tropical rainforests it grows up to 50 m tall.
Cultivated specimens are pruned annually and are not allowed to grow more than 3 m tall.
The spice is made from the papery bark of the young branches, stripped of its bark and peeled off.