Cinnamon

Origin

Cinnamon’s use can be traced to 2800 B.C. in what is now known as Sri Lanka. European desire for it and other spices propelled exploration worldwide. The Portuguese discovered Sri Lanka and the spice in the 16th Century and started its importation to the continent, which continued into the 17th Century. It was during Dutch occupation of what was then known as Java during the 17th Century that the practice of its cultivation began. The East India Company became the primary exporter of the spice.¹

Today, it is still grown in Sri Lanka and South India. Cassia is the most common cinnamon sold in North America. It is typically sweeter and more aromatic than “true cinnamon,” but it can be astringent. It is harvested from the inside bark of both young shoots and mature trees and then processed and frequently ground into a powder. Bark from trees growing at higher altitudes is considered better, with a greater oil content than those growing at lower elevations.

Since first described scientifically, the names for these trees has changed repeatedly since 1825 as different botanists applied different names to plants within this genus. This still fuels the confusion surrounding cinnamon and cassia.^{2, 3}

Function

Cinnamon gets its flavor and aroma from an essential oil that makes up about 0.5% to 1.0% of its composition. “In cinnamon, the leaf and bark oils have entirely different flavour profiles and qualities, and one cannot be substituted for the other,” write B. Krishnamoorthy and J. Rema in Cinnamon and Cassia: The Genus Cinnamomum.² “There are many blends available which are imitation flavourings and could be distinguished through sensory and instrumental analysis.”

Worldwide, it is used mostly as a culinary ingredient. The bark oil is used in commercial manufacturing of baked goods and confectionery, while cinnamon-based oleoresin is used to create cake mixes and convenience foods. Cassia oil may be used, but less frequently, in bakery and confectionery. Cassia buds, similar in appearance to tiny cloves, are used in confectionery and purported to taste as good as the bark.⁴

Apart from flavor, cinnamon is also used in commercial baking to impart a specific color to a product. “For certain purposes, it may be desirable to give a baked product high cinnamon colouring and yet only relatively mild cinnamon flavouring,” write J. Thomas and P. P. Duethi in Handbook of Herbs and Spices. “In this case, the buyer would look for a red-coloured cinnamon (cassia) with a moderate oil content, or perhaps a cinnamon blend (in which two or more grades are mixed to give a desired performance). The blending of different cinnamon varieties or grades to create tailor-made cinnamon for various types of baked goods has become a standard practice. …[P]rovided the blends are formulated properly, they have many advantages.”⁴

Finely ground cinnamon is ideal for use in flavoring baked goods, although the bark oil may be used for commercial applications because it can be measured more accurately.²  In the United States especially, cinnamon mixed with sugar is commonly used to flavor apples (apple pie), cereals, and baked goods such as doughnuts, pastries, and sweet breads.

Nutrition

Cinnamaldehyde is the most predominant compound found in cinnamon. It has anesthetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antiviral actions. As a whole, the compounds found in cinnamon are anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants and neuroprotective.

Composition

The main flavor of the bark is cinnamon oil, which contains mainly cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamic alcohol.

Additives to cinnamon can be common. Freshly-ground cinnamon should contain from 0.9 to 2.3 percent essential oil. The physical and chemical quality standards for both whole and ground cinnamon are provided in ISO 6539-1983.⁴

Types

A great deal of confusion exists between the different types as well as between cinnamon and cassia. When looking at two different quills or sticks, the color and density is key, say experts. Ceylon cinnamon has a softer, lighter color and is rolled in layers. Other varieties are darker and harder; these will be rolled in only one layer.⁶

• Vietnamese Cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi): Said to be the world’s finest, it is a sweet and spicy, dark red-brown cinnamon. It has a high coumarin content and is also strongly aromatic.⁷
• Indonesian or Java cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanni): This variety is spicy and dark red-brown. It also features a high coumarin content and is also considered strongly aromatic. It is also inexpensive.⁷ This variety is typically used in oleoresin.⁴
• Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum, formerly Cinnamomum zeylanicum): With a slightly sweet taste and scent, this so-called “true” cinnamon contains the least coumarin content. It is a light to medium red-brown color. The taste is also said to be delicate, which makes it best for use in baked goods.^{7, 8, 6}
• Chinese cinnamon (C. cassia): This spicy, yet bitter variety is the kind most frequently used by home cooks. Its origins can be traced to Southeast China. It has a high coumarin content and a very strong, bitter taste. It is a dark red-brown color.^{7, 8}
• Encapsulated cinnamon: A process in which the volatile compound cinnamaldehyde is protected by encapsulation is being investigated for commercial application. This process purports to protect the compound that gives cinnamon its aroma and flavor and also eliminates its antifungal properties that inhibit yeast growth. Researchers expect using this ingredient could enable the creation of cinnamon-spiced baked goods with more flavor and texture than those made using conventional cinnamon. Additionally, using such a product might possibly reduce food manufacturers’ costs since less spice would be needed.⁵

Application

It’s primary culinary use is as a flavoring. The flavoring component exists in cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for cinnamon’s distinctive scent and taste. It is also volatile at high temperatures. The flavor can both degrade and evaporate at high heat. This can alter the taste of the baked good.

Using excessive amounts will delay fermentation and the proofing of dough due to the spice’s antifungal properties. It can also cause the dough not to rise at all. Most of the time, yeast levels have to increase, for example in cinnamon rolls, to compensate.⁵

However, cinnamon’s anti-microbial properties are said to be responsible for limiting the growth of Listeria and E. coli in foods, which can extend a product’s shelf life.⁶

After purchasing cinnamon, it is key to store it in a cool, dry place to prevent the volatile oils from dissipating. Humidity can cause powdered cinnamon to cake. Good storage helps preserve flavor.  Whole cinnamon does not lose its oil content as rapidly as ground cinnamon. Cinnamon in oleoresin form is stable at high temperatures, but the substance will oxidize and change color when stored improperly.⁴

FDA regulation

Culinary cinnamon is considered generally recognized as safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This also includes essential oils and oleoresins derived from cinnamon.⁹ However, some individuals may develop allergic reactions from eating cinnamon. There have been some dermatitis cases reported by commercial bakers from repeated handling of cinnamon-infused doughs.⁴

The precise details regarding product labeling for foods sold in the United States containing spices, including cinnamon, are outlined in Title 21, Volume 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 101.^{10, 11}

References

1. Nabavi, Seyed F.; Di Lorenzo, Arianna; Izadi, Morteza; Sobarzo-Sánchez, Eduardo; Daglia, Maria; Nabavi, Seyed M. 2015. “Antibacterial Effects of Cinnamon: From Farm to Food, Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Industries.” Nutrients 7, no. 9: 7729-7748. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/7/9/5359.  Last accessed 17 October 2018.
2. Ravindran, P. N., et al., editors. Cinnamon and Cassia: The Genus Cinnamomum. CRC, 2004. pp 1, 17-19, 185, 318.
3. Flavours and Fragrances of Plant Origins.  CHAPTER 2, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1995, www.fao.org/docrep/v5350e/V5350e04.htm. Last accessed 17 October 2018.
4. Thomas, J., and P. P. Duethi. “Chapter 11.” Handbook of Herbs and Spices, Volume 1, Elsevier, 2001, pp. 143–152. Woodhead Publishing.
5. Gong, Curtis. “Ultrasonic Encapsulation of Cinnamon Flavor to Impart Stability for Baking Applications.” ECommons , Cornell University, May 2018, ecommons-new.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/57370/Gong_Curtis.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y.
6. Kawatra, Pallavi, and Rathai Rajagopalan. “Cinnamon: Mystic Powers of a Minute Ingredient.” Pharmacognosy Research 7.Suppl 1 (2015): S1–S6. PMC. Web. Last accessed 16 October 2018.
7. Kawatra, Pallavi, and Rathai Rajagopalan. Pharmacognosy Research, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, June 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4466762/table/T1/. Last accessed 16 October 2018.
8. Kring, Lorna. “The Best Ways to Use Cinnamon in Your Cooking.” Foodal, 11 July 2018, foodal.com/knowledge/herbs-spices/sweet-savory-cinnamon/. Last accessed 17 October 2018.
9. “CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.” Accessdata.fda.gov, United States Food and Drug Administration, www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=182.20. Last accessed 17 October 2018.
10. “CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.” Accessdata.fda.gov, United States Food and Drug Administration, www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.22. Last accessed 17 October 2018.
11. “CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.” Accessdata.fda.gov, United States Food and Drug Administration, www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=582&showFR=1. Last accessed 17 October 2018.