What are Cassia Cinnamon Sticks?
Cassia Cinnamon Sticks are obtained from the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia tree, also known as Chinese cinnamon. There are four different types of cinnamon available on the market:
- Ceylon cinnamon: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (also known as Cinnamomum verum)
- Chinese cinnamon or cassia: Cinnamomum cassia (also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum)
- Indian Cinnamon: Cinnamomum burmanii
- Vietnamese cinnamon: Cinnamomum loureiroi
All cinnamon trees belong to the laurel family and are evergreen trees that can grow up to 15 meters in height. They are primarily found in tropical climates, including Sri Lanka, China, and Vietnam.
How do Cassia Cinnamon Sticks Taste and How Can You Use Them?
Cassia cinnamon sticks have an intense warm, woody, and sweet-spicy aroma. They pair well with desserts such as apples, pears, or apricots. You can use them to bake apple strudel or traditional Christmas biscuits like cinnamon stars.
Cassia cinnamon is not limited to sweet dishes and can also enhance the flavor of savory dishes. It is commonly used in Indian cuisine for meat and vegetable dishes. The Indian spice blend Garam Masala incorporates cinnamon and adds depth to Indian curry dishes. Cassia cinnamon pairs well with spices such as cloves, allspice grains, nutmeg, vanilla, coriander, mace, star anise, Szechuan pepper, cardamom, ginger, and fennel.
The Moroccan spice mixture Ras el Hanout also includes cinnamon and is used to prepare the famous couscous.
Cassia Cinnamon sticks are also ideal for decorating or adding flavor to tea.
How Do Cassia Cinnamon Sticks Differ from Ceylon Cinnamon? How Can You Recognize Them?
Cassia cinnamon sticks are darker in color compared to Ceylon cinnamon. They are made from a single piece of bark and have a more intense aroma and sharper flavor than Ceylon cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is more aromatic due to its higher concentration of coumarin, a natural phytochemical that can be harmful to the liver in large quantities.
In Germany, cassia cinnamon is often considered inferior, whereas in America it is considered equivalent to Ceylon cinnamon.
Cassia cinnamon is more affordable than Sri Lankan cinnamon and is therefore preferred in the food industry.
Storage
To preserve the freshness of cassia cinnamon sticks, it is recommended to store them in an airtight container away from sunlight in a cool and dry place.
Extra Tip:
Cassia cinnamon is more potent than Ceylon cinnamon, so it should be used sparingly. You can use the sticks whole or grind them into a powder. We also offer pre-ground cassia cinnamon for your convenience.
