Which Cinnamon is this?

[jcaldeira]

Not exactly a fruit, but I don't know where else to ask:

Is my cinnamon tree "Ceylon Cinnamon" (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) or "Cassia Cinnamon" (Cinnamomum cassia or Cinnamomum aromaticaum)?  I did a Google image search but still aren't sure.

[fruitlovers]

Congratulations John, that's the real thing: Cinnamonum zeylanicum or true cinnamon. The C. cassia has much narrower and longer leaves. Cassia is much faster growing but is not as good quality as zeylanicum, but often used as an adulterant in sold products.

[Roy-Ind]

I agree with Oscar
This is true cinnamon

Roy

[DurianLover]

A word of caution if anyone growing or consuming Cassia cinnamon.  Few years ago I overdosed on cassia and than couldn't sleep for two days because of kidney pain. I started googling on cassia and only than found out that Cassia contain 1000 times more coumarin than Sri Lankan cinnamon. Very toxic for kidneys. It was a bit too late. Since than I buy only true cinnamon sticks and grind them myself to be sure I'm getting the real thing.

[jcaldeira]

Excellent!   Thanks Oscar and Roy.   And thanks for the warning, DurianLover.

I had no idea there were even two different types of cinnamon until I bought my seedlings. Now I need to learn when and how to harvest the bark. 

[Doglips]

I've always heard about true cinnamon, never had that it that I am aware of.

So, is true cinnamon better tasting than Cassia, or just different?

If it is better, why is 90%+ of the market Cassia?

[fruitlovers]

I've always heard about true cinnamon, never had that it that I am aware of.

So, is true cinnamon better tasting than Cassia, or just different?

If it is better, why is 90%+ of the market Cassia?

True cinnamon is better tasting. Like i said before, cassia grows a whole lot faster and easier, that is why it's used as an adulturant.

[Zambezi]

True cinnamon bark/stick, you can snap or break into pieces with your hands. The bark is softer than Cassia bark.

Cassia cinnamon bark is very hard. You can't snap a stick with your hands, or try to break off pieces of it.

In powder form, it's hard to tell them apart unless you test for coumarin.


John, Congrats, that's a beautiful tree...