BRAD'S

Cinnamomum verum

Family: Lauraceae (Laurel)

History
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices and can be dated back almost 7,000 years to the Egyptians and Hebrews who used scented cinnamon oils as part of their worship rituals (why did cinnamon need a scent?).  Anyway, cinnamon is still the most widely used incense scent in today's religious services.

Use
True cinnamon trees grow only in Ceylon and India.   When the bark is rolled, we get cinnamon sticks and when ground, cinnamon powder.   The cinnamon tree is small and bushy and is ready to produce cinnamon after six years.

The majority of cinnamon used in America, however, is from the bark of the cassia (Cinnamomum cassia blume), which is stronger in flavor than true cinnamon. The branches are taken and carefully scraped; then the bark is removed in long sections.  The bark is then sorted, peeled, and trimmed into pipes, or quills.  As the bark dries, the quills curl into small sticks about an inch in diameter.  They are then graded according to size, color, thickness, and quality.

Comments from Your Host,  Brad

One of my favorite thoughts of my Mom-mom Scobey was smelling Snickerdoodles baking in her kitchen! I now bake these wonderful cinnamon-topped cookies every Christmas at least; and believe me, those lucky enough to find a batch under their tree wait in great anticipation!  Some even drool, but we're not sure if it's just because of the cookies. To me, one of the most welcoming scents in your home is cinnamon.  Whether it is cinnamon buns, a fresh-baked  apple pie or Snickerdoodles, the delightful aroma of cinnamon is comforting indeed!  Please try any, or all, of the recipes below to delight your family and bring kudos to the baker!

Recipes using Cinnamon:

Verna Scobey's Snickerdoodles
(Cinnamon-topped cookies)

Cinnamon Buns (Scratch)

Apple Crisp (What a smell!)

Blueberry Buckle

Easy Coffee Cake

Know someone who would appreciate learning about this spice?

I would appreciate your passing it on!