Is Cinnamon a Root, Bark or What?

Cinnamon sticks are made from the rolled bark of one of a variety of tropical cinnamomun trees that belong to the Laurel family.

If you are a cinnamon lover, 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. Many foodies believe that Indonesian cassia cinnamon has the best flavor.  It's the cinnamon used in many high end confections - like the Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

Try buying a special coffee grinder for exclusive use with your herbs and spices. Prefer one with an all-metal interior, too. This will avoid the flavor transfer that sometimes occurs with plastic. Coffee grinders have sturdy motors that can stand up to cinnamon bark without a problem.

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

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