Cinnamon

Brief description

Indian Name: Dalchini

Botanical Name : Cinnamomum verum

Family Name: Lauraceae

Lauraceae: Bark

Habitat: Srilanka, India

contd…

Origin Of Cinnamon Srilanka, South-west India & the Tenasserim Hills

of Burma

Related species of cinnamon is grown in Indonesia, Vietnam and China

Its flavor is due to an aromatic essential oil that makes up 0.5% to 1% of its composition

contd…

Forms of Cinnamon :-

Whole Cinnamon

Powdered Cinnamon

Cinnamon Sticks

Ceylon cinnamon has negligible amounts of

coumarin(known to cause liver and kidney

damage in high concentrations ).

Varieties of cinnamon

Cinnamomum dubium (Wight) (Sinhala: sewel Kurundu or wal Kurundu)

Cinnamomum ovalifolium (Wight)

Cinnamomum litseafolium Thw. (Sinhala: Kudu Kurundu)

Cinnamomum citriodorum (Sinhala: Pangiri Kurundu - rare)

Cinnamomum rivulorum

Cinnamomum sinharajense

Cinnamomum capparu-corende (Sinhala: Kapuru Kurundu)

Trade in Cinnamon Spice Global trade in cinnamon ranges between 8500-12000 tonnes

annually.

Srilanka contributes nearly 80% of the total cinnamon production

followed by Seychelles, Madagascar and India.

USA, Japan and EU are the major import markets of the spice.

Indian Scenario

Cinnamon production is a labour intensive process, requiring the bark of the plant to be cleaned thoroughly before being dried and finally used for consumption.

Karnataka, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are the major production areas in India.

Uses of Cinnamon

Cosmetics Perfumery

Food processing: including cakes, puddings, ice creams, desserts.

Personal hygiene products: including toothpastes, soaps

Confectionery: including candies, chewing gums

Beverages: including tea and soft drinks.

Uses contd… as an insect repellent, although it remains

untested. Cinnamon leaf oil has been found to be very effective in killing mosquito larvae.

Medicines: Cinnamon has astringent, carminative, antiseptic, antifungal, anti-viral, blood purifying, and digestion aiding properties, which makes is useful in the preparation of a number of drugs and medicines.

Side effects

Excessive use of cinnamon bark may cause inflamed taste buds, tender gums, and mouth ulcers.

Large quantities can change breathing, dilate blood vessels, and cause sleepiness, depression, or even convulsions