Cinnamon is obtained by cutting off the inner layer of the bark of the evergreen cinnamon tree, which grows in Brazil, South. China, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, Madagascar, Sumatra, and its homeland is Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

The cut bark is dried, and it is rolled into tubes, which are cut into sticks up to 12 cm long. Cinnamon is sold in the form of sticks or ground into powder.

Also sometimes found on the market are dried flowers or clove-like cinnamon tree buds, which give tea and other drinks a clean, delicate aroma.

How to choose cinnamon:

What stores call cinnamon is not always what it is. The most useful and aromatic types of cinnamon are grown in Ceylon.

Cassia (“Indonesian cinnamon”) is often passed off as cinnamon; this is the bark of another variety of cinnamon tree cultivated in China and Indonesia; cassia has slightly different properties. To get high-quality cinnamon, cinnamon shoots that are 2-3 years old are selected, and the thinnest inner layer of bark is cut off.

Cassia is prepared from whole pieces of bark of 7-10 year old trees and quite successfully replaces cinnamon in many cases, but this spice contains 100 times more of a substance harmful to human health - coumarin, which causes headaches and even hepatitis; this substance is used as rat poison . In 1 kg of noble cinnamon the coumarin content is about 0.02 g, in cassia - 2 g.

Knowing what cinnamon is, it will be easy for you to choose a high-quality spice.
How to distinguish real cinnamon from cassia.

1. Most often, it is not the high-grade valuable spice that is sold in ground form, but cassia or other low-grade cinnamon. If you need a good spice, check the country of origin: you should give preference to cinnamon brought from Ceylon rather than from China, Indonesia or Vietnam. It is also not recommended to purchase cinnamon from Germany, the USA, or Israel - local production is not established in these countries, and they do not sell cinnamon from Ceylon.

2. True cinnamon is more expensive; the packaging may be marked “Cinnamomum zeylonicum”. Cassia is sometimes labeled as "Cinnamomum aromaticum".

3. The smell of true cinnamon is softer and more noble - soft, warm, sweet. Cassia smells weaker, but rougher and sweeter.

4. As for cinnamon sticks, the high-grade noble spice has a delicate, uniform light brown color; the color of cassia is not the same inside and outside and has a reddish-brown or gray-brown tint. Real cinnamon sticks are always curled at both ends, forming “ram's horns,” while cassia sticks may be slightly curved or not curled at all.

5. The cut of cinnamon wood is thinner; the thickness of the cuts of the best varieties is comparable to the thickness of a paper sheet. Cinnamon is easily crushed and is fragile, while cassia is stronger, thicker (3-10 mm), coarser and breaks into fibers.

6. You can check the quality of the spice at home. To do this, drop iodine onto a stick or a pile of cinnamon powder - cassia will turn dark blue with this interaction, and true cinnamon will turn slightly blue.
Storing cinnamon:

Keep the spice in an airtight container at a temperature no higher than 20°C and a relative humidity of no more than 70%. It is better to purchase cinnamon sticks and grind them into powder before use.
Cinnamon shelf life:

In sticks, the spice remains useful for 12 months; the optimal shelf life of ground cinnamon is six months.

Useful properties and contraindications of cinnamon.
Therapeutic effect:

Cinnamon stimulates, invigorates, improves mood, relieves depression, restores strength, improves memory, coordination and attentiveness.

It improves the circulation of fluids and thins the blood, lowers cholesterol levels, cleanses the liver and choleretic system.

Cinnamon is used to strengthen the heart and prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Consuming cinnamon relieves a runny nose, cough - dry and with phlegm, removes mucus from the nose, removes congestion and congestion in the sinuses. It can soothe a sore throat, relieve cold headaches, cure flu and bronchial asthma.

Large amounts of cinnamon cause uterine contractions. The spice helps to recover during the postpartum period and increases milk flow. This is a traditional Indian remedy to reduce the risk of recurrent pregnancy immediately after childbirth up to 20 months.

In addition, cinnamon freshens breath, relieves muscle spasms, relieves colic, helps with indigestion, facilitates digestion, removes gas accumulation, and helps normalize weight. By the way, it is recommended to use cinnamon with ginger for those who want to lose weight - the product normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, calms the nervous system and reduces appetite.
What are the benefits of cinnamon and honey?

When combined with honey, cinnamon exhibits its beneficial qualities to a greater extent. The main thing is to choose truly healthy, high-quality honey.

These components of the flu remedy: 1 tbsp. Boiled water needs to be brewed 0.5 tsp. with a pinch of black pepper, let it brew, consume internally with honey.

For colds, coughs and congestion in the respiratory tract, take orally a mixture of half the volume of cinnamon with 1 volume of honey.

For weight loss, it is recommended to drink an infusion of spices with honey and water on an empty stomach, upon waking up and at night.

By mixing honey and cinnamon in a 4:1 ratio, you get a natural mask to treat skin rashes.
Contraindications:

You should avoid using the spice if you have bleeding, epilepsy, nervous exhaustion, or high blood pressure. Cinnamon should absolutely not be consumed by pregnant women.
Dosage:

Add half to 1 tsp to dishes and drinks. per 1 kg or 1 liter.

How to use cinnamon?

It is best to grind cinnamon sticks into powder immediately before use: lightly fry them in a dry frying pan, grind them in a coffee grinder or mortar and then add them to dishes and drinks - this way the sticks will crumble better and give more taste and aroma. Another way is to lightly fry the sticks in the right vegetable oil until aroma appears.

It is best to grind cinnamon sticks into powder immediately before use: lightly fry them in a frying pan with or without oil, grind them in a coffee grinder or mortar and then add them to dishes and drinks - this way the sticks will crumble better and give more taste and smell.

Add cinnamon 7-10 minutes before a hot dish, such as buns, is ready. In cold dishes, such as salads or curd masses, the spice is added before serving.

The sweet warm taste and aroma of cinnamon allows it to be added to a wide range of dishes, including preserves and jams, compotes and jelly, liqueurs, punches, coffee, tea and chocolate drinks, sweet pilafs, jellies, mousses, pies, and curd spreads. The spice is great for salads made from carrots, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, spinach, quince, pears, vegetable side dishes and marinades, for example, with zucchini, tomatoes, red peppers.

Cinnamon perfectly emphasizes the taste of apples, balancing the natural sourness inherent in their taste in pies, salads, and when baked. The aroma and taste of the spice combine perfectly with citrus fruits such as tangerines, lemon, orange, creating a holiday mood.

Cinnamon with kefir:

Kefir, being a nutritious dietary fermented milk product, is perfect for fasting days. By adding cinnamon to it - half a teaspoon per glass - you make this drink more beneficial for digestion and promoting weight loss. Kefir with cinnamon is great for fasting days or as a snack.

Cinnamon This is the thin inner layer of bark from a tropical tree called Cinnamon. It grows in China, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, India, on the island of Ceylon and belongs to the Laurel family. The tree grows at an altitude of more than 1000 m above sea level, and its height can reach 10-12 meters.

There are several types of cinnamon:

1. Ceylonese (noble)
2. Cassia (Chinese)
3. Cinnamon (spicy cinnamon)
4. Malabar

The most valuable type of cinnamon is Ceylon (noble) or cinnamon, which is part of the bark of the evergreen plant Cinnamomum zeylanicyn. In order to make real cinnamon, three-year-old shoots of this plant are cut off, and only the thin inner layer of its bark is taken. This bark is then dried in the sun and rolled into tubes by hand. It is approximately 10 times the cost of the cash register. Ceylon (noble) cinnamon has a delicate aroma and an astringent, sweetish taste.

Chinese spice (cassia), or false cinnamon, Indonesian cinnamon has a pronounced pungency and tart taste. It is less aromatic, unlike noble Ceylon cinnamon, and has low taste. Cassia is a cheap spice. To produce it, shoots of the Cinnamomum aromaticum plant, 7-10 years old, are cut off, and all the bark is used to prepare the spice.

The main disadvantage of Cassia is the high concentration of coumarin in it (in cassia its concentration is 2 g/kg, and in Ceylon cinnamon it is only 0.02 g/kg), which, when consumed regularly, causes dizziness, diarrhea, and chronic headaches in humans. It is especially dangerous to use in large doses for children and pregnant women.

Cinnamon is a fiery type of cinnamon with a pungent taste.

Malabar cinnamon differs not only in taste, but also in appearance. The spice sticks have a dark brown tint and are famous for their sharp, bitter taste.

Cinnamon calories

When thinking about cinnamon, fragrant buns, buns, and desserts are associated, so many people classify this spice as a high-calorie product. Indeed, 100 grams of spice contains about 260 kcal. However, cinnamon is lightweight and is consumed in minimal quantities. Therefore, it does not pose a danger to the figure. A teaspoon of cinnamon powder contains about 20 kcal, while one standard-sized thin cinnamon stick contains only 10 kcal.

The composition of cinnamon is striking in its unique combination of organic oils and nutrients:

• Manganese, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc
• Sodium, potassium
• Vitamins of groups K, E, C, A
• Niacin
• Pyridoxine
• Tannins
• Aldehydes
• Folic, pantothenic acids
• Alimentary fiber
• Fats, proteins, carbohydrates
• Essential oils

Interesting fact: the leader in the supply of Ceylon cinnamon to the world market is Sri Lanka (10,000 tons of spice per year). Indonesia is the largest supplier of Cassia (25,000 tons of cinnamon per year).

Harm

Cinnamon: contraindications

Taking any spice requires caution. Before consuming cinnamon, you should weigh its beneficial properties and contraindications so as not to harm the body. Of course, cinnamon in minimal quantities will not harm, but if the permissible dosage is exceeded, intoxication of the body is possible.

Cinnamon contraindications:

• Hypertension
• Blood coagulation disorders (reduced clotting)
• Pregnancy
• Intolerance to spice components
• Liver pathologies
• Lactation
• Digestive diseases (gastritis, ulcers)

People who have been diagnosed with liver and kidney pathologies should be especially careful when consuming this spice, especially if consumed regularly. Contraindications for cinnamon are associated with the high content of coumarin in the spice, which negatively affects this organ. The minimum amount of this substance contains the Ceylon type of spice, and the maximum concentration is found in Cassia.

Cassia has too high a level of coumarin - 1200 times higher than what is acceptable for the body. In Russia, rats are poisoned with coumarin, and the animal just needs to sniff it or lick it.

The permissible daily dose of such cinnamon is no more than 10 g (half a teaspoon). Abuse of it can be fraught with headaches, overstimulation of the nervous system, and nausea. If you have diseases of the digestive tract, the contraindications of cinnamon are taken into account first, since taking the spice can cause severe irritation of the mucous membrane.

In real Ceylon cinnamon, a small amount of coumarin is recommended for daily use - it naturally thins the blood and stimulates brain activity.

Cinnamon during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Doctors do not recommend regularly consuming cinnamon for pregnant women. The spice affects the muscles of the uterus, causes its activity, which can lead to undesirable consequences - premature birth or miscarriage. Of course, if you eat a small bun with a pinch of cinnamon, you will not harm your body. Contraindications of cinnamon during pregnancy are associated precisely with long-term, regular use of this product.

It is also undesirable to use cinnamon when breastfeeding, as it changes the taste of milk and can lead to the baby refusing to breastfeed. In the first months of lactation, the use of cinnamon should be avoided.

After the child reaches the age of 6 months, the mother can gradually introduce this spice into the diet and monitor the baby’s reaction to the new product. Cinnamon has allergenic properties, so if a child develops a rash or redness of the skin, the young mother should stop taking it.

Cinnamon with honey: harm

Cinnamon goes well with many foods, and a real cure is a mixture of cinnamon and honey. This mixture is useful to use in old age with senile sclerosis, to restore brain activity. However, despite the beneficial properties of cinnamon, contraindications should be taken into account and try not to abuse this medicine.

You should not take cinnamon with honey in the following cases:

• Endocrine diseases
• Diabetes
• Low stomach acidity
• Digestive diseases
• Tendency to bleed
• Heat
• Allergy
• Pregnancy
• Children under 6 years old

The expectant mother should avoid administering cinnamon and honey. Honey is a strong allergen, and cinnamon increases the tone of the uterus. The combination of these products can negatively affect the course of pregnancy, cause premature birth, and in the early stages, miscarriage.

Benefit

Cinnamon: beneficial properties

The spice is an excellent antiseptic and can destroy the effects of harmful microorganisms that attack the body during periods of exacerbation of colds and viral diseases. The beneficial properties of cinnamon are due to the zero cholesterol content in the spice and the ability to remove it from the body.

The spice is used in the following cases:

For the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The spice reduces blood glucose levels and is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It can be introduced into the diet in small doses, adding to drinks and cereals.

To improve blood circulation. Cinnamon increases the activity and regenerative abilities of cells, improves blood circulation.

As a preventative against cancer. Especially if there is a hereditary predisposition.

As an antifungal and antimicrobial agent. Cinnamon is used as a prophylactic to protect against seasonal respiratory diseases. A few drops of cinnamon oil added to the baths fight Candida species bacteria, eliminate sweaty feet, and prevent the development of fungus.

For the treatment of joint diseases. Natural cinnamon powder is used in the treatment of arthrosis. Consumption of spices reduces cytokines, which leads to increased formation of cartilage lubrication and improved motor functions of joints.

To improve appetite. The spice improves digestion, and its smell alone can stimulate appetite. When consuming cinnamon, there is a decrease in flatulence and a decrease in stomach acidity.

As a stimulant. Adding cinnamon to coffee and tea improves human performance and relieves spasms during migraines. Cinnamon is used to combat nervous system disorders as a sedative.

For weight loss. The spice removes toxins from the body, improves metabolism and reduces blood glucose. This allows it to be used in the fight against excess weight, reducing the deposition of fatty compounds in the body.

Consumption of cinnamon has a beneficial effect on the hormonal background of women: the production of progesterone increases and the condition improves during menopause. The beneficial properties of cinnamon are expressed in its ability to induce sexual desire.

Cinnamon spice is a powerful aphrodisiac that affects the formation of libido in men and women.

Cinnamon with honey: benefits

If you dream of good health, smooth skin and preservation of youth, cinnamon with honey should become your usual product in your diet. The combination of these useful and aromatic products is used to treat:

• Heart diseases
• Cholesterol removal
• Enhance immunity
• Treatment of inflammation of the genitourinary system
• Toothache, gum disease, halitosis
• Colds
• Diseases of the epidermis (rashes, eczema, fungus)
• As an antihistamine for insect bites
• For the treatment of arthritis
• Flatulence, gastric disorders

Cinnamon and honey are used for cosmetic purposes. Masks based on them tone the skin, strengthen hair, and get rid of acne.

How to choose real cinnamon

Experts strongly advise purchasing this spice in the form of whole rolled up tubes rather than ground into powder, then you can be completely confident in its quality. So it retains all its beneficial properties, aroma, even essential oils for a long time, from three to five years.

To distinguish cheap cassia from noble Ceylon cinnamon, it is worth paying attention to some differences:

1. Ceylon cinnamon sticks have thin walls, they are very fragile, crumble easily (since only the inner layer of bark is cut), with many curls. They have the same light brownish color both inside and outside. They have a rich aroma.
2. Cassia sticks are much thicker, difficult to grind, have fewer curls, which are almost untwisted, or twisted only at one end, and often have no curls at all. Cassia is darker in appearance, with a reddish tint. Also, their color is uneven (the outside may differ from the color inside), the shade inside is usually dark or gray-brown. The smell leaves a bitterish tart aftertaste.
3. An honest manufacturer indicates on the packaging with real Ceylon cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicyn. On the packaging with cassia - Cinnamomum aromaticum. The buyer can then be completely sure what kind of cinnamon he is purchasing. You can also pay attention to the country of origin. If it is cassia, then the country of origin will be indicated on the packaging - either China, Vietnam or Indonesia. Ceylon cinnamon grows in Sri Lanka and Western and Southern India.

When buying ground cinnamon, you should pay attention to its color - it should not be too dark, but light brown.

There are cinnamon counterfeiters: Burmese or bay cinnamon bark, tansy, cinnamon extract, even ground oak bark are used as substitutes.

You can check the authenticity of cinnamon using iodine. Due to the high starch content, spice powder from cassia bark takes on a rich blue-black hue. Real high-quality Ceylon cinnamon, when exposed to a drop of this substance, will hardly change its color or turn into a not so dark shade - from light brown to dark chocolate.

How to use cinnamon

The spice is used in combination with chocolate, baked goods, and to prepare delicious desserts. Cinnamon in combination with apples gives the dish a special aroma. In eastern countries, the spice is used as a seasoning for poultry and lamb dishes. And the combination of coffee and alcoholic drinks with cinnamon conquers even real gourmets.

Of course, cinnamon powder is not consumed as an independent dish. Fragrant sticks are placed in drinks and ready-made dishes. Spicy powder is added at the end of cooking, especially if they are baked in the oven. Long heat treatment of the spice can result in an unpleasant aftertaste of burnt cinnamon, which will ruin the dish.

The maximum amount of spice per 1 kg of finished dish (meat) is 1/2 teaspoon of powder.

Moreover, you should grind a tube of cinnamon (for making baked goods or drinks) in a wooden mortar manually (resulting in small shavings), or using a strong regular rolling pin and a wooden board. After grinding in an electric coffee grinder, the cinnamon develops a metallic taste and its essential oils evaporate.

Cinnamon oil

The content of aromatic oils in the bark of the cinnamon tree is minimal - only 1. Therefore, entire plantations are grown to produce cinnamon oil. The bark of young cinnamon trees is soaked in sea water, crushed and converted into a delicate oil by steam distillation. The oil produced from tree bark is used in cooking, cosmetic fragrances and perfumes. Oil based on cinnamon tree leaves is used in soap making, detergents, and flavored tobacco.

Spice oil perfectly improves metabolism, reduces gas formation in the intestines, improves the functioning of the circulatory system, and relieves constipation. Cinnamon oil neutralizes insect bites, helps with mild forms of intoxication of the body, and heals wounds. The product is used as an aromatic aphrodisiac to improve sex life.

The use of oil is excluded in the following cases:

• Nervous exhaustion
• Pregnancy
• Herpes tissue damage
• Hypertension
• Epilepsy
• Cuperosis
• Fever

Cinnamon oil can be used externally, starting with minimal dosages. If the epidermis becomes red, burning, or rashes occur, stop using the product.

Cinnamon oil should not be consumed in its pure form. The product should be used with caution, taking into account the contraindications of cinnamon and cinnamon-based oils.

ADDITIONALLY

Cinnamon in cosmetology

The widespread use of spices in the field of cosmetology is explained by its beneficial effects on the skin and hair. The use of cinnamon affects the metabolic processes of tissues, and thanks to the presence of tannins and antioxidants, the skin becomes smooth, elastic, gets rid of wrinkles and pigmentation. Of course, the beneficial properties of cinnamon are enormous, but when using powder or oil for the first time, carefully study the contraindications of the spice.

Mask for nutrition and facial rejuvenation

Take a third of a banana, 2 tablespoons of natural sour cream, 1/2 spoon of lemon juice, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Mix the ingredients, apply the mask to your face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Body Scrub

Mix 50 g of sugar, 100 g of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and massage onto the skin. The procedure is carried out for 20 minutes, then washed off with mild soap. If the skin is very dry, cleansing cosmetics may not be used.

In the article we discuss cinnamon. You will learn how cinnamon grows and where to buy the aromatic spice. We will tell you how to take the spice to treat colds, lower blood sugar levels, and normalize blood pressure. By following our tips, you will learn how to prepare masks for skin and hair based on it at home.

Ceylon cinnamon is an evergreen tree of the Laurel family (lat. Lauraceae). The Latin name is Cinnamomum verum. True cinnamon or cinnamon is the dried part of the bark that is used as a seasoning.

Ceylon cinnamon, as this tree is also called, grows in Western India and on the island of Sri Lanka. The plant prefers humid tropical and subtropical climates.

To produce real spices, only the inner layer of the bark of young shoots is used. They are dried in the sun, then rolled into tubes. The spice has a characteristic smell.

How to distinguish cinnamon from cassia

The real spice is often confused with cassia. This tree is cultivated in Indonesia, China and Vietnam. A spice similar to cinnamon is obtained from the bark of seven-year-old trees. For its production, the entire bark is used, so the resulting tubes are thicker.

The light one on the left is cinnamon, the dark one on the right is cassia.

This spice has a delicate aroma, sweetish, slightly hot taste. The thickness of the dried bark is 1-2 mm. The spice has a rich composition, which provides a high healing effect.

Cassia is less aromatic and has a sharper taste. The wall thickness of the tube is from 3 to 10 mm. A characteristic feature of the Chinese spice is its grainy grain and reddish-brown color, which is why it is called red cinnamon. When infused, real spice does not form mucus.

How to spot a fake

Distinctive features of this spice:

• appearance - real spice sticks are tightly twisted and resemble papyrus in appearance;
• structure - spicy sticks are thin, fragile, unlike cassia;
• color - real spice is light brown, cassia is darker, to reddish brown;
• price - Ceylon spice is much more expensive than a fake;
• Labeling: for natural cinnamon: Cinnamomum zeylonicum, for cassia: Cinnamomum aromaticum.

Useful properties and contraindications of spices

The benefits of the spice and possible harm to health lie in its composition. It contains coumarin, which in overdose causes severe headaches, dizziness, and liver problems. If the spice consumption norm is not observed, severe nervous agitation is observed. Doctors recommend consuming no more than ½ teaspoon per day.

Since ancient times, it has been used in medicine as a medicine for colds, hypertension and diabetes. It is widely used in cooking and perfumery for its unusual, pleasant aroma.

This famous spice has a characteristic aroma that lifts your spirits and has antidepressant properties. It stimulates the production of the joy hormone and normalizes brain activity.

The spice is useful for diabetes. Its regular use reduces blood sugar levels, promotes cell renewal, and rejuvenates the body. It is more often used for type 2 diabetes.

The spice is used for hypertension. It normalizes blood circulation, lowers blood pressure, and cleanses blood vessels. Cinnamon helps to recover from a stroke and eliminates tremors in the limbs.

The spice is good for the gastrointestinal tract. It normalizes digestion, improves appetite, and removes bad cholesterol.

Recipes with spices are used for weight loss. It improves metabolism, normalizes the functioning of the liver and gallbladder, breaks down fat, preventing its deposition.

Cinnamon with honey effectively helps with colds, flu, ARVI. The product has an antibacterial effect and eliminates the symptoms of the disease, but it is not recommended for use at high body temperatures.

Who benefits from the spice?

The benefits of spice are equally important for men and women. The pleasant aroma is used as an aphrodisiac. It enhances attraction, lifts your spirits, and fills you with energy.

Despite the large number of beneficial properties, the spice has a number of restrictions on its use. The spice is unsafe for women in early pregnancy. It causes contractions of the uterus, which can cause miscarriage.

The spice is useful for school-age children. It helps increase concentration and brain activity. With regular use of the spice, memory improves and fatigue decreases.

Elderly people can also benefit from including the spice in their diet. It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, cleanses blood vessels, strengthens them and cleanses the blood of harmful cholesterol and high glucose levels. The spice is used to prevent thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes.

For more information about the beneficial properties of the spice, watch the following video:

Contraindications to the use of spices:

• high body temperature;
• low blood clotting;
• renal and liver failure;
• increased acidity of gastric juice;
• individual intolerance.

How to take cinnamon

As we have already said, it is necessary to monitor the rate of spice consumption. For example, for a preschooler, 4 cinnamon cookies can cause side effects such as dizziness and abdominal pain. For a school-age child this dose is 6 pieces, and for an adult - 8.

For diabetes

The spice is especially useful for type 2 diabetes, when additional insulin is not needed. According to research by American scientists, spice reduces blood sugar levels by 25-30%. There are no special instructions for using the spice. It is necessary not to exceed the daily norm. The aromatic powder is added to main dishes, sauces, and desserts. It is often combined with coffee, tea and other drinks.

From pressure

The spice is used to normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It lowers blood pressure and strengthens blood vessels. The spice is consumed in combination with kefir, tea, honey and in its pure form by brewing it with water. Drinks are drunk 2-3 times a day, taking into account the daily intake of spices. The treatment course is up to 2 weeks.

For colds

Combining the spice with honey helps with colds.

Ingredients:

1. Honey - 1 tablespoon.
2. Cinnamon - ½ teaspoon.

How to cook: Mix the ingredients.

How to use: Take the resulting mixture on an empty stomach, 1 teaspoon.

Result: The product relieves sore throat, has an antimicrobial effect, and strengthens the immune system. The recipe is used for sore throat, bronchitis, ARVI.

Cinnamon for weight loss

The spice is used for weight loss. With its help, low-calorie dishes and drinks are prepared, which improve metabolism, break down fat, and ensure satiety for a long time.

The spice is used externally. Cinnamon oil is added to anti-cellulite creams, baths, and body wraps.

Kefir with cinnamon for weight loss

Spice with kefir is an effective means for losing weight without fasting. This cocktail improves metabolism, prevents fat deposition, and dulls the feeling of hunger.

A nutritious drink can partially replace your main meal. Reviews from nutritionists indicate that people who lose weight most effectively replace dinner with a drink or drink it an hour after eating.

Ingredients:

1. Cinnamon powder - 1 teaspoon.
2. Kefir - 250 ml.
3. Ground ginger - ⅓ teaspoon.
4. Red pepper - on the tip of the knife.

How to cook: Beat kefir with a blender, add dry ingredients, mix until smooth.

How to use: Drink 1 glass of cocktail 20-30 minutes before meals. In this case, food portions should be reduced. The recipe is not suitable for people with gastrointestinal diseases.

Result: The drink leaves you feeling full for a long time and promotes weight loss. The first results are noticeable after a week of use. In a month you lose 4 kg of excess weight.

Cinnamon with honey for weight loss

Cinnamon infusion with honey

Ingredients:

1. Cinnamon - 3 gr.
2. Lemon - ½ pc.
3. Ginger - 10 gr.
4. Honey - 15 ml.
5. Water - 100 ml.

How to cook: Cool the boiled water to 50 degrees, add ginger and cinnamon, stir. Cover with a lid, insulate with a towel, and let sit for half an hour. Squeeze lemon juice, mix with honey, add to infusion.

How to use: Take ½ cup of the product on an empty stomach.

Result: Reviews from those who have lost weight say that the infusion keeps you feeling full for a long time. The first results are noticeable after a week of use.

Water with cinnamon and honey

To prepare a drink with cinnamon and honey, use water at a temperature of no higher than 50 degrees. Under the influence of higher temperatures, the beekeeping product loses its beneficial properties. Reviews from those losing weight say that the drink helps to get rid of extra pounds in a short time.

Ingredients:

1. Water - 250 ml.
2. Cinnamon - 7 gr.
3. Honey - 20 gr.

How to cook: Boil water, cool slightly, add spices. Cover with a lid and leave for at least 30 minutes. Add honey to warm liquid and stir.

How to use: Take ½ glass 2 times a day: in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening, half an hour before bedtime. The course of treatment is from 2 to 8 weeks.

Result: The drink normalizes digestion, removes waste and toxins from the body, and prevents fat deposition.

Cinnamon for face

Cinnamon is often used in cosmetology - added to face masks. The spice stimulates blood circulation, improves cell nutrition, and saturates them with vitamins. After the procedure, the skin may turn slightly red. The reaction passes quickly.

The spice rejuvenates, tightens, and cleanses the skin. The rich composition improves the general condition of the epidermis, making it more elastic and radiant. The spice has an antibacterial effect, so masks based on it are used for problem skin.

Acne mask

Ingredients:

1. Lemon juice - 5 ml.
2. Honey - 1 tablespoon.
3. Cinnamon - 10 gr.

How to cook: Grind honey and cinnamon until smooth, add lemon juice and stir.

How to use: Apply the mask to previously cleansed facial skin for 15-20 minutes. After the procedure, wash with warm water. The product can be used every 2-3 days.

Result: The mask effectively eliminates pimples, acne, acne. Disinfects the skin, giving it softness and elasticity.

Cinnamon for the body

Cinnamon is beneficial not only for the skin of the face, but also for the body. It disinfects, heals, nourishes, moisturizes, and tightens the epidermis. The spice is added to masks, scrubs and mixtures for wrapping against cellulite.

Cinnamon Scrub

Ingredients:

1. Milk - 4 tablespoons.
2. Oatmeal - 3 tablespoons.
3. Cinnamon - 5 gr.
4. Almond oil - 5 ml.

How to cook: Pour hot milk over oatmeal, cover with a lid, and leave for 7-10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.

How to use: Apply the scrub to the skin with massage movements and distribute evenly over the body. Pay special attention to problem areas.

Result: The scrub removes fat deposits, increases blood circulation, and cleanses the skin of dead cells.

Cinnamon for hair

The spice is used not only for skin, but also for hair. It is added to ready-made cosmetics or homemade masks for the care of curls. The spice strengthens and restores hair structure and prevents hair loss.

Hair masks with cinnamon

Thanks to its rich composition, cinnamon-based masks are suitable for all hair types. The spice is combined with aloe to reduce oily scalp. A mixture of spices and vegetable oils is suitable for the dry type.

Hair growth mask

Ingredients:

1. Onion - 1 pc.
2. Garlic - 4 cloves.
3. Honey - 15 ml.
4. Cinnamon - 10 gr.

How to cook: Grate the onion and garlic or use a blender, combine with the rest of the ingredients, and mix.

How to use: Apply the mask to the hair roots, warm with a towel and keep for half an hour. After the procedure, wash your hair twice with shampoo.

Result: The mask increases blood circulation in the scalp and stimulates hair growth.

Revitalizing mask

Ingredients:

1. Cinnamon - 3 tablespoons.
2. Macadamia oil - 5 ml.
3. Coconut oil - 5 ml.
4. Honey - 3 tablespoons.

How to cook: Melt coconut oil, add honey, spices, macadamia oil, stir.

How to use: Apply the mask to dry hair, cover with film, and insulate with a towel. After half an hour, rinse the mixture with warm water and shampoo.

Result: The mask moisturizes and smoothes hair, gives it shine.

Lightening hair with cinnamon

The spice is used to lighten curls; for this purpose it is added to shampoos, conditioners and masks. The products are distributed over the entire length, avoiding the scalp and root area. Regular use of the spice makes hair 1-2 shades lighter. Below are reviews of its use for lightening hair.

Elena, 25 years old

I've had dark hair all my life. I wanted to change my image, but I didn’t want to resort to store-bought paints. I read on the Internet that cinnamon and honey lighten curls. Every 2-3 days I made masks based on it. The result did not take long to arrive! The photo shows my hair before and after the cinnamon lightening procedure.

Maria, 39 years old

With age, my hair color began to fade, a friend advised me to make a cinnamon-based mask. After using it, the curls became more elastic, acquired a healthy shine, and became a couple of shades lighter.

Can pregnant women have cinnamon?

The spice is beneficial for the expectant mother’s body if there are no pathologies during pregnancy. The spice improves immunity, has an antiseptic effect and normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this, it should not be consumed in the early stages, as the spice can provoke uterine contractions.

During breastfeeding, cinnamon should be consumed 4 months after birth. It is necessary to introduce spice into the diet during breastfeeding with extreme caution so as not to cause an allergic reaction in the baby.

Where to buy cinnamon

Real Ceylon spice is available at the grocery store and most supermarkets. The spice can be ordered in the online store. The packaging of natural cinnamon should be labeled Cinnamomum zeylonicum and the country of origin - Sri Lanka.

Price 100 gr. Ceylon spice in sticks is about 600 rubles. Ground spice costs 1000 rubles for the same weight.

You can buy cinnamon essential oil at most pharmacies. The cost of 10 ml of the product is 100 rubles.

What to remember

1. Cinnamon is widely used in folk medicine, cooking and perfumery.
2. The spice strengthens the immune system, lowers blood sugar levels, removes cholesterol, waste and toxins.
3. The spice is used for skin and hair care.

Cinnamon is familiar to many as a popular exotic cinnamon (in the form of fragrant sticks, powder and essential oil). But few plant lovers have seen cinnamon in person and are familiar with its characteristics and varied uses.

Having learned about the sale of cinnamon tree cuttings, I wanted to get to know this plant better and try to grow it at home. I read a lot of interesting things about cinnamon on the Internet - how useful cinnamon is in various areas of human life.

I will share with the readers of the site the knowledge I have gained about cinnamon and the experience of growing cinnamon at home.

Cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon

Cinnamon(Cinnamomum) is an evergreen tree of the humid tropics, preferring to grow in places with high average annual temperatures (25-27 degrees) and significant amounts of precipitation. Most cinnamon species have aromatic wood, bark, leaves and fruit.
The leaves of cinnamon are leathery, smooth, oblong, 14-15 cm long. Like the spicy bark, its leaves taste sweet, but they smell not of cinnamon, but of... cloves! Old, shiny cinnamon leaves have a regular green color, but young leaves are red or crimson (see title photo). Such bright coloring is not uncommon in plants in hot climates, which helps the delicate, immature leaves protect themselves from the hot equatorial sun.
Cinnamon blooms throughout the year. Its flowers are small, yellowish-white, collected in panicles.

Cinnamons are widely grown in many countries: India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Java, Madagascar, Ceylon. However, it is believed that the most “impeccable spice” is produced only by cinnamon from Ceylon and China.

By the way, only Ceylon cinnamon is called “cinnamon tree” or “cinnamon”. This emphasizes the right of this plant to a privileged place among other types of cinnamon.
Ceylon cinnamon, or Ceylon cinnamon(Cinnamomum ceylanicum), like other cinnamon (for example, Japanese, Himalayan, Cochin), belongs to the very spicy Laurel family (Lauraceae), which includes and.

How to grow cultivated cinnamon and harvest the bark

The cinnamon tree in natural conditions reaches ten meters. And in its cultivated form, cinnamon grows in the form of a bush, which usually does not exceed two meters in height.

2-3 years after planting, the young cinnamon tree is cut down almost at the root, and side shoots grow from the remaining short stump. The quality of the bark depends on the age of the shoot: the most fragrant bark is on shoots that are 17-18 months old. It is at this time that the plant’s regrown shoots, which reach approximately 3 meters in length, are cut off. This is usually done during the rainy season, when the fragrant bark is most easily separated from the wood.

On the cinnamon shoots, cleared of leaves and twigs, make even circular cuts - exactly at a distance of 46 cm from one another! The bark is then cut on both sides along the length of the shoot, removed from the whip and wrapped in coconut mats, where it is kept overnight.
Then the outer bitter layer (epidermis) is scraped off the bark. Peeled pieces of bark are tied into bundles and dried - first in the shade and then in the sun. As a result, dry bark becomes brown or yellow-brown in color.
Bark ready for sale is collected into bales, placed in jute bags and sent to all countries of the world.

Cinnamon: Uses from Antiquity to the Present Day

The cinnamon tree has a very rich history, because since ancient times people have widely used its gifts for various purposes.

In biblical times, cinnamon was used as a spice, a remedy, and a raw material for making perfume.

In China, cinnamon has long been used in medicine (to treat the gastrointestinal tract), as incense for temple incense burners.
The Greeks also valued cinnamon for its stomachic and antiseptic effects. Along with and, cinnamon was considered a sacred plant of the Greek god Dionysus. An ancient myth says that the Phoenix Bird, reborn from the ashes, collected branches of cinnamon, myrrh and spikenard for its magical fire.
The Egyptians used cinnamon to treat feet, remove excess bile, and embalm. The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra used cinnamon to create oils and incense intended for seduction, as well as to make a love potion.
The Jews performed religious rituals with cinnamon.
The Romans included cinnamon in their famous perfume, Sasinum.

The peculiarity of cinnamon is that the bark of this tree can be rolled into tubes in several layers, forming fragrant sticks.
In the Middle Ages, the Arabs equipped caravans to transport cinnamon and other spices from Asia to Egypt. With their characteristic oriental cunning, they composed a story about a mythical bird - Cinnamologus, which makes a nest of cinnamon sticks. It is as if she brings them from Arabia, but where exactly is not known. It is difficult to obtain cinnamon from the nests of these birds, because they place them on steep cliffs. Therefore, people who get cinnamon from the cliffs face double danger: high altitude, as well as the sharp claws and beaks of birds fiercely defending their nests.
This oriental tale was intended to hide the true source of cinnamon production in order to explain its high cost. In fact, everything was much more prosaic and simpler: the popular spice was made from the bark removed from cinnamon trees. However, the story made up by traders about the great value of cinnamon had an effect.
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, in the notes of Pliny the Elder, there is a mention that the cost of 350 g of cinnamon is comparable to 5 kg of silver. It is not surprising that in those distant times, cinnamon was available only to rich, noble and powerful people.

The story goes that the Roman Emperor Nero burned a year's supply of cinnamon at his wife's funeral, perhaps out of remorse for causing her death.

In Europe, cinnamon oil appeared around the 9th century, it was used as an ingredient in the preparation of love drinks and mulled wine, and was also given to women in labor as a sedative. For medicinal purposes, cinnamon was also used as a remedy for coughs, sore throats, colds and flu - diseases that the famous 12th century German herbalist Abbess Hildegard von Bingen called “internal disintegration of mucus.”

Cinnamon in modern medicine and cooking

Research by scientists has confirmed the healing properties of cinnamon and proven its effectiveness for many ailments.

Medicinal properties of cinnamon:
- soothes pain and normalizes digestion (helps the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, stops diarrhea, relieves nausea and vomiting, fights flatulence and worms);
- antioxidant, antidepressant, aphrodisiac;
- refreshes the mind and body, helps remove warts;
- has antiviral and antibacterial effects (kills germs, viruses and fungi, used to treat various infections);
- prevents blood diseases and improves its circulation, stimulates blood vessels, which gives a relaxing effect and helps relieve pain from rheumatism and arthritis, relieves menstrual pain;
- strengthens gums and hair follicles, tones muscles and tightens skin, preventing symptoms of aging;
- helps against diabetes by regulating blood glucose levels and reducing excess sugar;
- enhances memory and stimulates brain activity, reducing nervous tension and stress.

Precautions should be taken when using cinnamon essential oil, which is a powerful aromatherapy agent. Its high dosage is dangerous for humans (convulsions are possible). During pregnancy, it is better not to use cinnamon essential oil to avoid miscarriage.
Cinnamon leaf essential oil is preferable because the oil from the bark and buds may cause an acute skin reaction.

Cinnamon neutralizes unpleasant odors and is an insecticide. The essential oil is used to freshen indoor air and as a repellent: mosquitoes cannot tolerate cinnamon.

Cinnamon is often used in cooking: it is added to baked goods and used in the preparation of meat, fish, poultry, and drinks. Cinnamon helps preserve perishable foods longer.

The virtues of the cinnamon tree, the fascinating legends and stories associated with it, the centuries-old varied uses of cinnamon by man - all this makes me admire cinnamon!

Growing a cinnamon tree indoors

Of course, I had my doubts about successfully keeping cinnamon indoors. First of all, they are associated with a lack of lighting. But there is also a great desire to grow this amazing plant, despite any difficulties.

Now the precious cuttings of the famous cinnamon live in my house.
In the summer he felt good and grew quite quickly. The plant was in partial shade, since its leaves lost their elasticity in the hot sun.

The crown of a cinnamon tree can be formed by pinching the tops of the shoots. But this must be done with caution, because young cinnamon branches are tender and brittle.

Now, in anticipation of the coming winter (2013-2014), my cinnamon has stopped growing. The ends of several leaves changed color and began to dry out. Obviously, the plant is affected by the dry air in the apartment and lack of lighting. In the evenings I put the cinnamon tree under the lamp.

I hope that the cinnamon and other new ones will survive successfully and will delight you with new growth in the spring.

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Cinnamon can be called the spice of the elite, since in ancient times it was used exclusively during the preparation of dishes for crowned persons. The spice is obtained from the bark of cinnamon trees - trees of the Laurel family. It can be found on sale both in ground form and in the form of tubes (rolled pieces of bark).

In Russian, cinnamon got its name because of its brown color.

Cinnamomum verum is an evergreen cinnamon tree whose bark produces cinnamon. To obtain the spice, take the inner layer of tree bark.

Cinnamon trees are evergreen shrubs. Greenish cinnamon flowers have a rather unpleasant odor.

The fruits of the plant are purple berries. The leaves of the cinnamon tree are similar to bay leaves, but thinner and smaller.

The place where cinnamon trees of this species grow is not only Ceylon, but also Guiana, the island of Martinique, the states of Indonesia, Brazil, India and Malaysia. This cinnamon is valued higher than other types for its delicate smell and sweet taste. It is fragile.

In addition to Ceylon cinnamon, there are 3 more types that are much less valued.

It is also called fragrant, Indian or simple cinnamon. The well-known name for this type of seasoning is “cassia”. We wrote about it in detail in another article.

The trees from which this spice is extracted are grown in Indonesia, China, Laos, Cambodia and Burma. This spice has a less delicate aroma, it is sharper, tart and hot.

It is also called cinnamon. This cinnamon is obtained from a bush that is grown in Indonesia and the Moluccas Islands. It is very fragile, with graininess at the break, a pungent cinnamon smell, and also a rather spicy taste.

It is also called woody and brown. This cinnamon is extracted from the bark of trees growing in Burma and India. The difference between this spice and other types is its sharp bitter taste and dark brownish-brown color.

The homeland of real cinnamon is Southern China. It is mentioned in Chinese writings dating back to 2800 BC. The taste of the spice was described by Pliny the Elder in the first century AD.

The highest quality cinnamon is produced in Sri Lanka - it has a warm, sweetish taste and a very pleasant aroma. This cinnamon is obtained from the thin bark of trees. Also, the production of this spice is established in such places and countries as Brazil, Egypt, Western India, Vietnam, the islands of Madagascar, Sumatra and Java.

The bark is removed from cinnamon tree shoots that are less than three years old (usually shrubs about two meters high). Copper knives are used to obtain the bark, since cinnamon is rich in tannins that oxidize other metals.

The bark is harvested from the same tree twice a year. Usually the collection is carried out after the rainy period - at this time the bark is easier to remove and its aroma is higher.

The bark is cut into strips 1-2 centimeters wide and up to 30 centimeters long.

The outer skin of these strips is scraped off, after which the inner part of the bark is sent to dry in a shady place, waiting for it to darken and curl into tubes.

Ceylon spice has a very thin bark, so after drying the wall thickness of the tubes can be up to 1 mm. Before sale, the tubes are cut into pieces 5-10 centimeters long.

Not only the bark is extracted from the cinnamon tree, but also unripe fruits, which are called cinnamon “buds.” They are collected immediately after flowering. In appearance, these “buds” are similar to cloves. They are less aromatic, but have a sweet and rather mild odor. These “buds” are especially valued in India and China.

To learn how real Ceylon cinnamon is made, watch the following video.

• Buy cinnamon powder in small quantities, as crushed spice quickly loses its aroma.
• The sticks have a more persistent taste, but they are quite difficult to grind.
• When choosing cinnamon powder, smell it - the aroma should be quite strong.
• You can check whether you bought cinnamon or cassia using an iodine solution. This test will have almost no effect on cinnamon, but cassia will take on a dark blue color.

• The Ceylon type of cinnamon has a delicate aroma, very unique.
• The taste of the spice is slightly hot and sweet.
• The structure of the seasoning is crumbly and not too dense.
• It goes well with other tart and spicy seasonings.
• You can add cinnamon to any dish that uses sugar.

100 g of cinnamon contains:

Valuable substances in the bark of cinnamon trees are:

• essential oil (1-2%), consisting of cinnamaldehyde and tannins;
• fatty acid;
• alimentary fiber;
• minerals;
• mono and disaccharides;
• vitamins.

Ceylon cinnamon itself and the essential oil extracted from it have the following properties:

• Strengthening blood supply and metabolic processes.
• Resistance to cellulite.
• Improvement of digestive processes.
• Relief from flu and colds.
• The warming effect makes the oil popular for massage.
• Help with nausea, dizziness or fainting.
• Eliminating bad breath.
• Neutralization of poisons entering the body from insect bites.
• Increased sexuality.
• Normalization of the menstrual cycle.
• Help with asthenia, fears, depressive, melancholic and anxious moods.
• Relief from seasickness.
• Normalization of blood sugar levels.
• Prevention of cardiovascular pathologies.
• Memory improvement.
• Strong antioxidant effect.
• Antimicrobial properties.

You can learn even more about cinnamon and its beneficial properties from the following video of the “1000 Little Things” program.

• Chemotherapy of cancer.
• Pregnancy (the spice stimulates uterine contractions).
• Increased individual sensitivity.

If you want to use the spice externally, you must definitely mix it with a carrier oil.

Eating cassia is harmful to health. Buy only real Ceylon cinnamon. To learn how to distinguish cinnamon from cassia, read another article.

Both the aroma and taste of the spice are associated with the aroma oil in its composition. The tree bark contains approximately 0.5-1% of this oil. You can extract aroma oil from the spice by grinding the bark - it is soaked in sea water and distilled.

The resulting oil has a yellow-golden hue, a burning taste and a characteristic cinnamon odor. These characteristics are due to cinnamaldehyde, which is the main component of cinnamon aroma oil.

Gradually, the oil oxidizes, its structure becomes more resinous, and its color becomes darker.

Cinnamon bark is actively in demand in cooking:

• It is added to candies, chocolate and various desserts.
• Cinnamon sticks are used to prepare liquid dishes.
• With the help of cinnamon you can get an unusual taste of kefir and yogurt.
• The spice is added to marinades for meat, mushrooms or fruits.
• The spice in crushed (ground) form is added to dough and main courses.
• Cinnamon combined with sugar is often combined with cereals and fruits. It is especially often added to apple dishes.
• The cooking of Transcaucasia and Central Asia involves adding this spice when cooking lamb, other meat or poultry.
• This spice is included in various mixtures of dry seasonings.
• Adding cinnamon helps flavor drinks such as punch, grog or liqueur.
• Cinnamon goes well with salads made from carrots, spinach, young corn, and red cabbage.
• This spice can be added to fruit soups that are served cold.
• In England, cinnamon and sugar are sprinkled on crackers and served at tea parties.
• The French love to bake cakes with cinnamon.
• In some European countries, cinnamon is added to homemade beer.
• Cinnamon rolls make a great addition to pumpkin or tomato soup.
• Cinnamon goes great with coffee and cappuccino. You can stir the hot drink with a stick or sprinkle it with ground spices.
• In Thai and Indian cooking, cinnamon leaves are added to curries.

Adding spices to dishes is recommended at the end of cooking to avoid the appearance of a bitter aftertaste. The average amount of cinnamon per dish will be 0.5-1 teaspoon. spoon per kilogram of product or liter of liquid, although in oriental cooking this spice is used in much larger quantities.

Add 1-2 seasoning sticks and other ingredients to the wine to taste. Heat the liquid over low heat.

Toast the bread slices on one side, brush the other side (not toasted) with butter, then sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Fry on the other side until browned.

Boil fruits (apples, nectarines, pears, peaches) in syrup. Sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar, then place in the oven and bake until golden. These fruits should be served hot, topped with sour cream.

Watch the following video from the TV show “1000 and 1 Spice of Scheherazade”. From it you will learn a lot about cinnamon.

• External use of the oil involves mixing it with a vegetable base oil. For 10 ml of vegetable oil, take two or three drops of aroma oil. The mixture is used for rubbing and massage.
• Mix one or two drops of oil with tea. a spoonful of honey and adding to herbal tea, this drink is recommended for delayed menstruation, myalgia, weakness, impotence, diarrhea, colds, and flu.
• A few drops of aroma oil are dripped into hot water and inhaled to help get rid of depressive mood and pathologies of the upper respiratory tract.
• By adding cinnamon to hot wine, this drink is recommended for flu-like conditions and hypothermia. Also, for the flu, you can make a drink by dissolving honey and lemon juice in hot water, and after adding a pinch of cinnamon and 1 clove, bring the liquid to a boil, then leave for 20 minutes.
• A preventive remedy for the flu is cinnamon brewed with boiling water, to which a pinch of black pepper and honey are added. Drink this remedy every three hours.
• If headaches occur with a cold, stir cinnamon with water until a thick paste is obtained and apply to the forehead.
• A strong infusion of cinnamon helps with diarrhea, meteorite and vomiting.

You can learn even more about the medicinal qualities of cinnamon from the program “Live Healthy!”

Cinnamon, due to its large amount of dietary fiber, prevents constipation (a common problem when losing weight) and stimulates intestinal function. Another advantage of consuming cinnamon when losing weight is its positive effect on mood and decreased appetite. It is also known that this seasoning has the property of accelerating the breakdown of sugar. You can use cinnamon for weight loss in different ways:

• Add this spice to tea and coffee as a sugar substitute.
• Massage against cellulite with cinnamon.
• Do wraps.
• Do fasting days, drinking kefir flavored with cinnamon all day.

Cinnamon aroma oil is added to “oriental” perfume compositions.

Cinnamon trees are unpretentious and easily tolerate unfavorable conditions.

Uncultivated trees can grow up to 6-12 meters in height, but on plantations that are cultivated, the plant is usually represented by low shrubs.

After growing a tree for 2 years, it is pruned almost at the root, so that in the third year of cultivation new shoots are obtained (about ten of them appear), from which the bark is cut off.

To store cinnamon, it is important to seal the container in which the spice is placed. It is optimal to keep cinnamon in a glass container. Seasoning sticks can be stored for up to 12 months, and powder for up to six months. It is best to keep the spice in a cool, dark cabinet.

According to the testimony of Herodotus of the 5th century. BC.

Anyone who wanted to find the precious cinnamon bark had to go through many trials: fighting monsters, searching for it at the bottom of lakes and in the nests of huge birds of prey - these are not all the obstacles on the way to the most valuable spice. By telling such tales, Arab merchants promoted their business. That is why in Europe, cinnamon has long been considered an unattainable spice that only a select few deserve.

In Ancient times and the Middle Ages, cinnamon was used more as an aroma spice and incense. At that time, cooks most often used Indian laurel, which had a similar aroma, for food. But to give a special taste to honey cookies and sweet wine with spices, it was simply necessary.

Even more historical facts:

• Cinnamon and its properties were learned about in ancient times. It often served as a gift to high-ranking persons.
• The spice was brought to Ancient Egypt from China. The Egyptians used this spice for embalming.
• Cinnamon is mentioned in the Old Testament. From the lines you can understand that this spice was valued higher than gold.
• The ancient Romans considered cinnamon to be a plant of Jupiter, representing the element of fire. The Romans used this spice on funeral pyres.
• Until the 17th century, cinnamon was collected from wild trees. Later, trees began to be cultivated to produce spices.
• In the Victorian era, Austrian lovers gave each other bouquets of cinnamon, which was a symbol of love and tenderness.

Source: http://www.eda-land.ru/specii/korica/

How does cinnamon grow in nature?

Surely, back in the school cafeteria, you took yourself a bun with aromatic spice and even then wondered how cinnamon grows. It is used quite often in cooking. It grows on evergreen trees up to 15 meters high, belonging to the laurel plants.

Places of growth

When wondering where cinnamon grows in the wild, you can find out that the plant is most often found in southern India and Sri Lanka. It has oblong-oval leaves about 18 cm long.

Bunches of flowers form inflorescences and have a greenish tint. Unlike the final product, they have an unpleasant aroma.

Looking at the powder in the bag, you may not immediately understand what cinnamon originally looked like, how it grows, or what kind of tree it is.

In fact, these are purple berries 1 cm in diameter. These plants can be found on the islands of Sumatra and Java, western India, Vietnam and Brazil, Egypt and Madagascar.

But, of course, you will want to try the best product. The place where the most expensive cinnamon grows is Sri Lanka.

The bark from which the spice is made here is very thin and soft, and has a brown or light yellow color. She has just a pleasant smell.

Having tried to feel it with your taste buds, you can notice its extraordinary softness and sweetness, even warmth. In China, Indonesia and Vietnam, they produce a fake spice - cassia, which is made from coarser layers of bark.

Manufacturing technology

This amazing product is brought from distant countries. So how does cinnamon grow? It takes two years to fully mature and be ready for processing. When about a dozen shoots appear, the top layer is cut off and dried. This is exactly how the roll-tubes that you might have seen on the packaging of the powder are obtained.

They are cut into pieces up to 10 cm in length, in the form of which the product is also often sold. These are 6 to 10 layers of thin bark that form a single stick once it is separated from the trees. Next comes drying.

Observing how cinnamon grows in nature, manufacturers usually pay attention to keeping the bark thin, because then the aroma will be most pleasant.

The sticks are stored for a long time, which is acceptable due to the long shelf life of the smell. To determine the quality of a spice, they use the ekelle, a special unit.

The very condition of the sticks after processing and storage is very important, and not just how the cinnamon grows.

Those products that are imported to Europe are considered low quality, although there are no significant differences in taste. Therefore, powder form is used for transportation.

Application

After the product reaches customers, they add it to chocolate and desserts, spicy candies, liqueurs, and flavor alcohol and teas. In Middle Eastern countries, the product is used in the preparation of spicy dishes with chicken or lamb. Asians add it in mixtures with other herbs.

The leaves are eaten by those people who can personally observe how cinnamon grows. The spice is interesting for the local population not only in dried form, but also in fresh form. There are also uses similar to our approach to using bay leaves. Americans add the substance to fruits and cereals.

A good flavor combination is obtained with apples.

In Germany they also like to add this spice to sweets, mulled wine or baked goods. This is also an excellent way to make marinade tastier.

Works great as an essential oil, as the product exhibits antioxidant properties and the ability to fight microbes. It should be remembered that this substance should not be taken uncontrolled.

It is often found in cookies, tea, mulled wine, seasonings and yoghurts, and sometimes cosmetics. If you are carrying a baby under your heart, it is better not to use essential oils from the bark and flowers of this plant.

Story

Peoples who could observe how cinnamon grew on their land often used the spice during rituals and holidays. Today in Europe it is associated with Christmas. Its warm scent awakens everything good and gentle in the soul.

The bark is collected at the height of the rainy season, which lasts from May to October. It comes off the tree very easily. Of all the spices, this can be called one of the oldest, since it was the one that people began to use first.

Mentions of it can be seen in manuscripts dating back to 2800 BC. There is evidence in the Old Testament that Moses used it in an embalming mixture because the substance has antibacterial properties.

In Rome, sacred properties were attributed to this product. Nero burned a year's supply when the emperor's wife died.

The interesting thing is that he himself took her life and wanted to appease the gods in this way, and then it was a very expensive pleasure, because at that time 350 grams of cinnamon were valued at 5 kilograms of silver.

Trade Development

In the Middle Ages, this product was also of interest. It came to Europe thanks to traders from Arab lands, and it was highly valued. When sailors set out to find a water route to India in the 1400s, their main targets were Christians and spices.

In 1536, explorers from Portugal found dense brown forests and saw cinnamon growing. Photos of similar places can be found on the Internet today, but at that time it was a real innovation. It was in Sri Lanka on the islands of Ceylon.

Then trade in this spice began to actively develop, which brought huge amounts of money to entrepreneurs. The Dutch became interested in such a business, who first occupied part of the island and then conquered it all. In 1776, the British showed interest in the plant, although at that time the Ceylon land no longer had a monopoly, because plantings appeared in other places.

Popularity

Today this product is used throughout the entire globe. When you go to a Spanish bar, you can order a gin tonic with a stick of this plant sticking out of it. It is added to rice. Cinnamon can also serve as a substitute for black pepper when you need to season meat dishes.

At Christmas, the French eat fragrant cookies with this spice. It does not suffer from contact with other substances, but on the contrary, it combines organically with many. It is added to cardamom, coriander, pepper and cloves, mace and bay leaves. In India, they produce "garam oil", in other words called a "mixture of warm spices".

The Chinese prefer combinations with star anise, fennel, and cloves, the Syrians with paprika, cumin and coriander (the mixture is called “baharat”; it is sprinkled on lamb meat).

Beneficial features

Cinnamon is actively used in folk medicine for its excellent properties. It helps with bloating and improves digestive processes. Even sellers of medicinal plants in China noticed this effect. You can easily get rid of nausea and diarrhea. Helps in the fight against diabetes, as evidenced by recent studies.

It is also believed that when using this spice, the response to insulin improves, blood sugar levels improve, as well as blood circulation. Just by inhaling the wonderful aroma of the substance, you can feel that the brain begins to work better.

If you want to preserve the scent for as long as possible, place the sticks or powder in a container, close it tightly and place it in a dry, cool, dark place. You can leave them for a couple of months. To check the condition of a substance, you need to analyze its smell. It should be sweet, comforting, woody, indicating freshness.

beauty and health

This spice is also credited with beneficial properties in the fight against excess weight. Some experiments have shown that if you eat ¼ teaspoon of this product before meals, sugar is better absorbed and its level in the blood drops. This is what prevents new fat deposits from forming.

It is recommended to use the spice as a substitute for sugar. The taste is sweet and natural, and there are far fewer calories. Now this wonderful product is very easy to find, because it is in almost every store. It will make your dishes tastier and your health better.

Source: http://.ru/article/245199/kak-rastet-koritsa-v-prirode

How cinnamon grows, its beneficial properties and contraindications

The eastern queen of spices is the ancient name of one of the spices that most modern housewives add only to baked goods, tea or coffee. We're talking about cinnamon. Ground or in stick form, you probably have it in your kitchen cabinet.

Do you know how cinnamon grows, that such an addition to dishes can be both beneficial and harmful to health? We suggest broadening your horizons a little by familiarizing yourself with the unique properties of the miracle spice and taking note of several useful recipes.

How does cinnamon grow?

This spice is familiar to everyone, but do you know how cinnamon grows? Cinnamon or Cinnamon is an evergreen tree of the Laurel family, reaching a height of 15 meters. The leaves are light green and shiny above, and have a bluish tint below. The flowers are small white-yellow with a sharp, unpleasant amber. The fruit of the plant is berries.

Cultivation area is tropical zone.

Four types of cinnamon are widespread: Ceylon, cassia-canel, cinnamon, and Malabar.

The first - Cinnamomum verum - grows in Sri Lanka. In Ceylon, it is cultivated in the form of shrubs, from which the bark must be torn off twice a year. To obtain a fragrant “harvest” with a rich taste, the harvest is carried out during the rainy season. The bark is then rolled into tubes up to a millimeter thick. Their smell is delicately sweet.

Chinese cinnamon, also called cassia canel, is found in China, Cambodia and Indonesia. The bark is removed from it every 8 years. And the tubes are up to 2 mm thick. Accordingly, they have less fragility. By the way, the smell is also different from the Ceylon variety - sharper and sweeter.

Cinnamon is native to Indonesia. After drying, the bark is sold in small, thin layers. The taste is hot-spicy, with a slight spicy note.

Brown tree, Cassia vera is a Malabar variety. Distribution area: India and Burma. In comparison with previous varieties, it has thick and rough bark and a weak, barely perceptible fragrance. But its taste is memorable - sharp, viscous, pungent.

Cinnamon: beneficial properties and contraindications

Let's look at the beneficial properties of cinnamon; it contains:

• ethers;
• resins;
• slime;
• tannins;
• starch.

A nice addition is a full range of vitamins of all groups, macro- and microelements (K, Na, Zn, P, Fe, Mn, Mg).

This composition maintains normal immunity, tones, activates the functioning and health of internal organs.

In medicine it is used as an antiseptic and diuretic for problems with the cardiovascular system and stomach. If you take 2-3 pinches a day, your memory, attentiveness, and ability to concentrate will improve.

The spice in question is useful for women who suffer from algodismenorrhea and irritability during the premenstrual period. It is also useful for men to enhance sexual desire and potency. With regular use, it reduces the risk of heart attack, expands blood clots, and removes cholesterol.

Antiseptic properties will help cope with colds (coughs and sore throats).

Cinnamon for weight loss

The use of cinnamon for weight loss has received hundreds of positive reviews.

Fat burning cocktail: kefir and cinnamon

The recipe is surprisingly simple:

Mix 7 g of ground spice with 1.5 liters of low-fat kefir. Drink the resulting cocktail a glass per day (instead of dinner). The result is minus 3-5 kg ​​within a week.

Little advice: add cottage cheese to the mixture - this will relieve the feeling of hunger and, accordingly, speed up weight loss. Yes, and the numbers change: minus 1.5 kg per day!

If you are losing weight on kefir, then you will be interested in reading: kefir diet and its types

Cinnamon and ginger

A more effective remedy is a drink made from cinnamon and ginger.

To prepare, mix 7 g of spice, the same amount of ground root and 100 ml of boiling water. When the mixture has cooled, add a slice of lemon and 5 g of natural honey. Daily dose – 1 cup. The result is minus 5-7 kg, but subject to daily exercise and limiting sweets.

• increases tone;
• strengthens the immune system;
• removes cholesterol and toxins from the body;
• helps with diarrhea;
• useful for hair loss and skin diseases.

Contraindications and harm

Consumption is prohibited:

• hypertensive patients;
• pregnant women due to the risk of miscarriage;
• during lactation (deteriorates the taste of milk);
• ulcers;
• at a temperature;
• with bleeding;
• with individual intolerance.

Use of cinnamon in cooking

Both cinnamon sticks and a ground version are available for sale. But please note that the powder quickly loses its aroma, so you need to purchase it in small quantities. They are used for preparing first and second courses, desserts, marinades, sauces, salads, and more often for confectionery and bakery products.

We offer several easy-to-implement recipes.

Exquisite dessert - chocolate parfait

Ingredients:

1 egg + extra yolk, 60 g sugar, 2-3 g cinnamon, 50 ml rum, 150 g dark chocolate,

a glass of heavy cream.

Preparation:

1. Beat the egg, yolk and sugar with a mixer until fluffy.2. Add rum and spices. Stir the mixture until smooth.3. Add the melted chocolate to the mixture obtained earlier.4. Fill everything with whipped cream.

Pour into molds. Place them in the freezer for at least 7 hours. Before serving, place the molds with the frozen dessert in very hot water so that the contents can easily fall into elegant glasses or bowls.

Classic cinnamon coffee recipe

Ingredients:

ground Arabica 7 g, water 125 ml, sugar 3 g.,

cinnamon 4-5 gr.

Preparation:

Pour all the dry ingredients into the Turk, mix, and place on a low flame. When the mixture is noticeably warm, add water. Stirring occasionally, bring to a light boil, remove from heat. Pour some of the prepared coffee into a cup, some back into the cup and repeat the steps.

Cinnamon in cosmetology

In cosmetology, masks with cinnamon for the skin of the face and body, and for hair are common. They produce an antiseptic effect, but can also be an aphrodisiac. You can use both powder and essential oil of cinnamon.

Cinnamon with honey. Mask for the face. (tons, removes wrinkles)

Mix cinnamon and honey in a 1:2 ratio, apply for 10 minutes, rinse.
For those with dry skin, it is recommended to add a few drops of any oil to the composition; oily ones - chicken egg white.

Hair mask (accelerates growth)

Ingredients: kefir and olive oil 20 g each, egg – 1 pc., cinnamon and honey – 5 g each.
Preparation: mix the ingredients, apply to hair, lightly rubbing into the skin, for 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly.

Cassia and cinnamon, how to distinguish?

Did you know that in stores, instead of cinnamon, they usually give us a cheap spice, not of the best quality, with an excessive content of coumarin.

The Chinese and Malabar varieties, called cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum), are considered related to the quality Ceylon spice. Only this is a low-grade product. When buying cinnamon tubes, pay attention: Ceylon is lighter, aromatic and brittle, while cassia is darker and has a reddish tint, a bitter aftertaste, is thicker and more difficult to grind.

When buying packaged ground cinnamon, look at the packaging - the type (labeling) or country of origin should be indicated. China, Indonesia and Vietnam - cassia, Sri Lanka - the necessary spice. In addition, the cost of Ceylon is higher.