Cinnamon sticks are made from the rolled bark of one of a variety of cinnamomun trees that belong to the Laurel family. If you are a lover of cinnamon, try grinding your own. Ground cinnamon will lose its flavor pretty quickly, within a few months; but cinnamon sticks can retain good flavor for a year or more. In order to get the best cinnamon flavor, buy sticks and grind them in a quality coffee grinder in small batches.
Try buying a special coffee grinder for exclusive use with your herbs and spices. Select one with an all-metal interior. This will avoid the flavor transfer that sometimes happens with plastic.
Special note: Current research is finding interesting medical uses for cinnamon. I have an interesting article on current research showing promise in treating Type-2 diabetes with cinnamon that you might enjoy: Natural Herbal Treatment for Diabetes
