Everything You Need to Know About Cinnamon

Cinnamon is cherished by home chefs and food lovers all over the globe. Our deep affection for this spice is so widespread that we even have National Cinnamon Day on November 1st to honor it.

Cinnamon is a kitchen essential for many reasons. This sweet, warm, and slightly spicy spice not only smells wonderful but also enhances both savory dishes and desserts. Its comforting aroma pairs perfectly with beverages like hot tea and chai lattes, adding depth and flavor. Keep reading to learn all about how to cook with and store cinnamon.

What Is Cinnamon and Where Does It Come From?

Cinnamon is derived from the inner bark of certain evergreen trees in the Cinnamomum family. Farmers harvest the bark, peel it into sheets, and roll it into tubes that resemble scrolls.

The cinnamon sticks are sold in bundles or can be ground into a fine powder and packaged as the essential spice you see on store shelves.

What Does Cinnamon Taste Like?

While there are various types of cinnamon used for cooking, it generally has a sweet, woody, and slightly smoky flavor with a distinct aroma.

Whole vs. Ground

Cinnamon is available in whole sticks, ground form, or as a liquid extract. The flavor remains the same, with the primary difference being texture. Whole sticks provide a fresher, longer-lasting flavor when ground just before use.

The choice between whole or ground cinnamon depends on your intended use. Ground cinnamon is ideal for cooking and baking due to its convenience, while cinnamon sticks are better suited for infusing hot beverages or for stovetop and slow-cooking recipes.

Types of Cinnamon

Cinnamon comes in two main varieties: cassia and Ceylon. Each type varies in origin, flavor, texture, and appearance, giving each variety its own distinct character.

Cassia

Cassia cinnamon, commonly found on grocery store shelves, is native to China. It has a reddish-brown color, a rough texture, and coarser grinds. Its flavor is a blend of sweet and spicy with a touch of bitter woodiness.

This variety of cinnamon is widely used in both commercial products and home cooking and baking for its bold, intense flavor that mellows out with heat. Just a small amount of this cinnamon adds a punch of flavor to your favorite dishes.

Ceylon

Ceylon cinnamon, often referred to as 'true cinnamon,' is known for its smooth texture. This light tan-colored cinnamon, which is easy to grind, hails from Sri Lanka and Southern India, and is also cultivated in Mexico and East Africa.

Ceylon cinnamon has a gentle, delicate flavor with a sweeter aroma than cassia. The inner bark of the Cinnamomum verum tree is thinner, creating finer grinds than those of cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is perfect for recipes where you want a subtle hint of spice that won’t dominate other flavors.

How to Cook with Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a highly versatile spice found in popular blends like Chinese five-spice, chai spice, pumpkin spice, and jerk seasoning. On its own, cinnamon complements a wide range of beverages and both sweet and savory dishes. Whether in ground or stick form, cinnamon is used differently depending on the recipe.

Using Ground Cinnamon

Sprinkle ground cinnamon on tea, coffee, lattes, oatmeal, and a variety of desserts such as French toast, cinnamon rolls, streusel, churros, cakes, pies, and cookies to add a burst of spice and aroma.

Ground cinnamon also enhances savory dishes like soups, stews, tagines, shawarmas, pho, roasted meats, vegetables, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and even popcorn. It's also great as part of spice blends for marinades and rubs.

Using Cinnamon Sticks

Whole cinnamon sticks do more than just decorate dishes—they serve as stirrers and infusers, providing a fresh, long-lasting flavor and aroma. Add them to coffee, tea, chai, ciders, or mulled wine for that cozy, comforting touch.

Cinnamon quills are also perfect for stovetop and slow-cooking. Drop a stick into a pot of hearty oatmeal or break it into pieces to enhance the flavors of your favorite roasts.

Add an extra layer of spice to your grains by placing a cinnamon stick or two in your pot of curried rice, quinoa, or couscous for a warm, aromatic kick.

How to Store Cinnamon

Unopened ground cinnamon can last for 3 to 4 years in its original container, according to the USDA FoodKeeper App. While the package may show a best-before date, cinnamon doesn’t technically expire.

Once opened, ground cinnamon loses its freshness quickly and begins to lose its potency when exposed to air. It's best to buy only in small quantities and use it up promptly.

Cinnamon sticks are usually sold in plastic packaging. To preserve their freshness, transfer them to a jar or airtight container. Store both ground cinnamon and sticks in a cool, dark, and dry place like a spice drawer or kitchen cupboard. Always reseal the container after use to prevent moisture from getting in.