Such a spice is available in almost every kitchen. However, in many cases it is used much more modestly than one might think. We usually add it to pastries and sweet dishes. In fact, the use of cinnamon is much wider. In different countries of the world, it is used in the cooking process, for example:
- sweets and
- meat dishes
- marinades
This spice is the dried bark of an evergreen tree belonging to the laurel family and growing in South India and Sri Lanka. When it is collected, it itself folds into tubes. Then it is dried and cut.
Connoisseurs say that it is best to buy this spice grown in Sri Lanka: not only does it have a delicious aroma, but it also contains more useful substances. It is also necessary to keep in mind that cinnamon contains the dangerous substance coumarin. So, in the one that comes from Sri Lanka, as well as in other high-quality varieties, there is very little of it. And in low-quality it can be quite a lot.
Cinnamon is not only fragrant, but also useful, as it contains tannins and minerals(potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus) and vitamins (A, C and PP, B1, B2).
Cinnamon is sold in sticks (tubes) and powder. It is better to choose sticks. They retain their smell much longer than powder. Keep the spice in a tightly closed container (for example, glass jar), in a dark and cool place. Then it will carefully preserve its properties.
High-quality cinnamon sticks do not exceed 10 centimeters in length and 7 millimeters in width. If they are easy to break, then the spice has been lying for a long time. Fresh cinnamon is rich in essential oils that give it elasticity. Quality sticks should have even edges and no spots on the surface.
On the market you can also find a fake cinnamon - cassia. Its use is not recommended. Distinguishing cassia from cinnamon is quite simple, with the help of banal iodine. Drop some iodine into the powder. Cassia will turn into Blue colour and cinnamon is not.
The use of cinnamon sticks is a rather complicated issue for many Russian housewives. If everything is clear with the powder, then what to do with the tubes? In fact, there are enough use cases. First, the sticks can be ground up to produce a fresh, much more flavorful powder than you would buy in a store. Secondly, they can be used whole, adding to drinks, soups or marinades during cooking. Putting a cinnamon stick in a liquid dish should be about seven to ten minutes before the end of cooking. It can also be added to the second dish: meat or meat dishes in combination with cereals, vegetables (pilaf, stew, etc.). Then at first it is better to fry a little tube of cinnamon in oil so that it gives him its charming smell. And then fry the rest of the ingredients in this oil. When the dish is ready, it is better to take out the cinnamon stick.
The use of cinnamon in folk medicine
The beneficial properties of this spice allow it to be used far beyond cooking. For example, in China, the use of cinnamon in medicine is quite widespread. However, this spice has not been neglected in our country either. AT traditional medicine she is highly respected. The use of cinnamon in this area is very wide. So, this spice is used for
- prevention of E. coli infection
Add some cinnamon to a perishable dish. This spice is a natural antibiotic that can suppress not only E. coli, but also fungi.
- normalization of digestion
- toothache relief
Make a paste with a teaspoon of cinnamon and water. Apply this mixture to your gums. You will feel relief after 5-10 minutes.
- metabolism acceleration
- normalization menstrual cycle
- type 2 diabetes treatment
Cinnamon is taken in the morning, one gram per day - dissolved in a drink or added to food. It lowers blood glucose levels. If you decide to use this remedy for diabetes, be sure to check with your doctor first!
- relieve itching and redness from insect bites, as well as an antiseptic for cuts
- enhancement of sexuality in both women and men
- seasickness
- memory improvement
- cold treatment
Mix a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of cinnamon. Eat on an empty stomach.
The use of cinnamon in traditional medicine does not end there. It is actively used for weight loss. Recipes for use can be different, one of the most common is as follows: pour half a teaspoon of cinnamon into a glass of boiling water. Let's insist. Put a teaspoon of honey into the infusion. Mix thoroughly. In the evening, drink half of the infusion. Put the rest in the cold, drink in the morning before meals, on an empty stomach. Repeat next evening.
Cinnamon also helps with depression, stress, anxiety. In addition, it removes bad smell from mouth.
However, it should be borne in mind that there are contraindications. So, cinnamon and its essential oil should not be used for:
- pregnancy and lactation
- hypertension
- internal bleeding
- increased nervous excitability
- epilepsy
- high blood pressure
Yes and healthy people do not consume more than half a teaspoon of this spice per day. In old age, the spice should be used carefully, a little at a time.
Application of cinnamon oil
Along with powder and sticks, cinnamon essential oil is also popular. First of all, it can be used in an aroma lamp: for example, to combat stress. The use of cinnamon oil in cosmetology is also common. For example, it is used for, as well as for the prevention of its occurrence.
You can make an anti-cellulite wrap: take a bar of dark chocolate, melt in a water bath. Add 3 drops essential oil cinnamon or a teaspoon ground spices. Apply to cleansed skin on problem areas. Wrap them up cling film and cover yourself with a blanket. Wash off after 20-30 minutes. Hot wraps have contraindications (for example, varicose veins, gynecological diseases), so before using them, consult a doctor and make sure that you have no contraindications to this procedure. Wraps should be repeated no earlier than 3 days later.
Also, the use of oil helps to get rid of spots left after acne, blackheads, redness on the face. To do this, it is best to make a mask: mix a teaspoon of honey with a drop of cinnamon oil. Apply all over the face or problem areas, leave on for 20-25 minutes, rinse off. Apply in a course - within a month, every other day. Such a mask is contraindicated in case of rosacea!
And finally, cinnamon essential oil helps, makes them stronger. Add 2 drops of cinnamon oil to 2 tablespoons olive oil. Apply to the scalp, massaging gently. Leave for half an hour. Wash off with shampoo.
For whatever procedures you use cinnamon oil, remember that it can be applied to the skin only in a diluted form (mixed with base oil, honey, clay, etc.) Undiluted may cause skin burns.
Cinnamon sticks are less common in the home than regular, ground cinnamon, although they are made from higher quality raw materials and retain their aroma and beneficial properties longer. Let's decide what specifically distinguishes cinnamon sticks from its crushed form, how to use the pods correctly and what dishes you should not add it to.
In supermarkets, ground cinnamon is most often sold in bags. It is easy to use. Most housewives stop at buying spicy powder due to the fact that it is easy to measure it for a particular dish. But what is it made from? Few people think that an already crushed product loses most of its taste properties, useful qualities and aroma. The situation is similar with black and red peppers, but hand-operated pepper mills have long taken a strong position on modern kitchen shelves. It won't hurt the cinnamon either.
A cinnamon stick is not a twig, as it seems to most. This is the bark of an evergreen tree called "Cinnamon", which is peeled and rolled in a thin layer, usually 6-10 layers per stick. Cinnamon has been known to people for more than one thousand years, at first it was a wild tree, then they learned to cultivate it, divide it into species, use it in cooking, perfumery, and medicine. The cinnamon tree from Chinese lands is distinguished by astringency, burning taste and dark tint, the cinnamon from Ceylon has a pronounced aroma and sweetness, and the spice from India and Burma - dark color and bitterness. The latter variety is also called "cassia" or "false cinnamon", it does not need to be bought, it can only be distinguished in sticks, they will be less grainy inside, with a rough surface. Powdered cassia is almost impossible to distinguish from quality cinnamon before cooking.
The most valuable, tasty and fragrant spice comes from the island of Ceylon. Healthy, tasty and fragrant, it will give a special refined shade to your dishes. The chemical composition of the Ceylon spice positions it as the most suitable for the production of valuable essential oil.
Recipes for health
How to use cinnamon sticks without crushing them? We offer you a few simple, but effective recipes, for which you do not need to pre-grind the tubules.
Do you often suffer from abdominal discomfort? Tired of drinking medicines for bloating, colic and flatulence? Use the folk method:
- A glass of boiling water per stick real cinnamon. Insist half an hour.
- After the allotted time, remove the spice and add a spoonful of honey.
- Drink on an empty stomach in small sips.
Inflammatory elements on the skin do not go away? Are dullness, wrinkles and blackheads appearing? Prepare for healthy skin:
- Pour a glass of boiling water over a cinnamon stick, leave it to brew well overnight.
- Take some prepared liquid and mix with honey.
- You should get a paste that can be applied to the face and problem areas of the skin for a couple of hours as a mask.
A cinnamon stick can be used as a fragrant spice to the most different drinks. Cinnamon tea is not only tasty and smells great. It cures many ailments - it will save you from the onset of a cold, normalize digestion, help you lose weight. excess weight calm down and put your thoughts in order. Recipe:
- Half a liter of boiling water per cinnamon stick. Pour boiling water over the spice and infuse well.
- Then pour spiced water into a kettle and bring to a boil.
- Pour this liquid into black or green tea in a teapot. Let the drink infuse for at least 5 minutes.
Coffee with cinnamon is a classic option for lovers of this exquisite strong oriental drink. Recipe with nutmeg and orange zest:
- Take 150 ml of water, a spoonful of ground black coffee, a stick of spice, on the tip of a knife, ground nutmeg and chopped orange zest.
- Brew coffee by adding all the ingredients to the cezve.
- Pour into cups. Add sugar or honey if drinking sweet coffee.
How to properly grind and store a cinnamon stick
Most often, cinnamon sticks are crushed. You need to do this correctly, otherwise you risk getting dust or heterogeneous pieces, just ruining the product. Grind properly:
- dry the sticks in a pan, which will make the spice brittle, enhance the flavor and remove moisture;
- put dry pods in a container and grind with a mortar or you can put the spice in a bag and walk with a rolling pin;
- received small pieces grind to powder in a hand grinder.
How to store cinnamon sticks? The crushed spice retains its taste, smell and beneficial properties. chemical composition for 6 months in a transparent jar, hermetically sealed, placed in a dark, cool place. Pod storage is no different, only the shelf life is extended to a year. If the stick has already been used, then it can be used in the preparation of dishes and drinks two more times, then it loses its taste, aroma and useful properties.
cinnamon sticks in cooking
You can use cinnamon sticks in the most different dishes, but there are dishes that will be badly spoiled if you add oriental spice there.
What not to use spices with:
- salads;
- dumplings and dumplings;
- borsch;
- cabbage dishes of any kind;
- sushi;
- fish dishes (as opposed to sauces for fish dishes);
- lamb and beef.
In the article, we examined the features of the qualities and useful properties cinnamon sticks, how to use it, what dishes this spice does not combine with. Brought several healthy recipes with cinnamon in the form of a stick, and not in a powdered state, the conditions for its storage and the features of adding to dishes.
The article discusses cinnamon. You will learn how cinnamon grows and where to buy the fragrant spice. We will tell you how to take the spice to treat colds, lower blood sugar levels, and normalize blood pressure. Following our advice, you will learn how to prepare skin and hair masks based on it at home.
Ceylon cinnamon is an evergreen tree of the Laurel family (lat. Lauraceae). The Latin name is Cinnamomum verum. Cinnamon, or cinnamon, is the dried part of the bark used as a seasoning.
Ceylon cinnamon, as this tree is also called, grows in Western India and on the island of Sri Lanka. The plant prefers humid tropical and subtropical climates.
For the production of this spice, only the inner layer of the bark of young shoots is used. They are dried in the sun, then rolled into tubes. The spice has a characteristic smell.
How to distinguish cinnamon from cassia
This spice is often confused with cassia. This tree is cultivated in Indonesia, China and Vietnam. A spice similar to cinnamon is obtained from the bark of seven-year-old trees. For its production, the whole bark is used, so the tubes at the exit are thicker.
The light one on the left is cinnamon, the dark one on the right is cassia.
This spice has a delicate aroma, sweetish, slightly burning taste. The thickness of the dried bark is 1-2 mm. The spice has a rich composition, which provides a high therapeutic effect.
Cassia is less fragrant, has a sharper taste. The wall thickness of the tube is from 3 to 10 mm. A characteristic feature of the Chinese spice is graininess at the break and a reddish-brown color, which is why it is called red cinnamon. When infused, the real spice does not form mucus.
How to distinguish a fake
Distinctive features of this spice:
- appearance - sticks of this spice are tightly twisted, they look like papyrus;
- structure - spicy sticks are thin, fragile, unlike cassia;
- color - the real spice has a light brown color, cassia is darker, to reddish brown;
- price - Ceylon spice is much more expensive than a fake;
- marking - at natural cinnamon: Cinnamomum zeylonicum, in cassia: Cinnamomum aromaticum.
Useful properties and contraindications of spices
The benefits of spices possible harm for health are in its composition. It contains coumarin, which, in case of overdose, causes severe headaches, dizziness, and malfunctions of the liver. If the norm of consumption of spices is not observed, strong nervous excitement is observed. Doctors recommend consuming no more than ½ teaspoon per day.
Since ancient times, it has been used in medicine as a medicine for colds, hypertension and diabetes. It has been widely used in cooking and perfumery for its unusual pleasant aroma.
This famous spice has a characteristic aroma that uplifts the mood, has antidepressant properties. It stimulates the production of the hormone of joy, normalizes brain activity.
The spice is useful in diabetes. Its regular use reduces blood sugar levels, promotes cell renewal, and rejuvenates the body. It is more commonly used in type 2 diabetes.
The spice is used for hypertension. It normalizes blood circulation, lowers blood pressure, cleanses blood vessels. Cinnamon helps to recover from a stroke, eliminates trembling in the limbs.
The spice is good for gastrointestinal tract. It normalizes digestion, improves appetite, removes bad cholesterol.
Recipes with spices are used for weight loss. It improves metabolism, normalizes the functioning of the liver and gallbladder, breaks down fat, preventing its deposition.
Cinnamon with honey effectively helps with colds, flu, SARS. The tool has an antibacterial effect, eliminates the symptoms of the disease, but it is not recommended for use at high body temperature.
Who benefits from the spice
The benefits of spices are of equal importance for men and women. Pleasant aroma used as an aphrodisiac. It enhances attraction, uplifting, energizing.
In spite of a large number of useful properties, the spice has a number of restrictions for use. The spice is not safe for women in early pregnancy. It causes uterine contractions, which can lead to miscarriage.
The spice is useful for school-age children. It helps to increase concentration and brain activity. At regular use spices improves memory and reduces fatigue.
It is also beneficial for older people to include the spice in their diet. It has a beneficial effect on the state of cardio-vascular system, cleanses blood vessels, strengthens them and cleanses the blood of bad cholesterol and high glucose levels. Spice is used to prevent thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes.
For more information about the beneficial properties of spices, see the following video:
Contraindications to the use of spices:
- high body temperature;
- low blood clotting;
- renal and liver failure;
- increased acidity of gastric juice;
- individual intolerance.
How to take cinnamon
As we have already said, it is necessary to monitor the consumption of spices. For example, for a preschooler, 4 cinnamon cookies can provoke side effects in the form of dizziness and abdominal pain. For a school-age child, this dose is 6 pieces, and for an adult - 8.
For diabetes
The spice is especially useful in type 2 diabetes, when additional insulin is not needed. According to research by American scientists, spice reduces blood sugar levels by 25-30%. There are no special instructions for the use of spices. It is necessary not to exceed the daily allowance. Fragrant powder is added to main dishes, sauces, desserts. Often it is combined with coffee, tea and other drinks.
From pressure
The spice is used to normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It lowers blood pressure and strengthens blood vessels. The spice is consumed by combining with kefir, tea, honey and in pure form by boiling it with water. Drinks are drunk 2-3 times a day, taking into account the daily intake of spices. Treatment course - up to 2 weeks.
From a cold
With colds, a combination of spices with honey helps.
Ingredients:
- Honey - 1 tablespoon.
- Cinnamon - ½ teaspoon.
How to cook: Mix the ingredients.
How to use: Take the resulting mixture on an empty stomach, 1 teaspoon.
Result: The tool relieves sore throat, has an antimicrobial effect, strengthens the immune system. The recipe is used for sore throat, bronchitis, SARS.
Cinnamon for weight loss
The spice is used for weight loss. Prepared with her help low calorie meals and drinks that improve metabolism, break down fat, provide satiety for a long time.
The spice is used externally. Cinnamon oil is added to anti-cellulite creams, baths, body wraps.
Kefir with cinnamon for weight loss
Spice with kefir - effective remedy for weight loss without starvation. This cocktail improves metabolism, prevents the deposition of fat, dulls the feeling of hunger.
A nutritious drink can partially replace the main meal. Reviews of dietitians say that people who replaced dinner with a drink or consumed it an hour after eating lose weight most effectively.
Ingredients:
- Cinnamon powder - 1 teaspoon.
- Kefir - 250 ml.
- Ground ginger - ⅓ teaspoon
- Red pepper - on the tip of a knife.
How to cook: Beat kefir with a blender, add dry ingredients, mix until smooth.
How to use: Drink 1 glass of shake 20-30 minutes before meals. Food portions should be reduced. The recipe is not suitable for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Result: The drink leaves a feeling of satiety for a long time, promotes weight loss. The first results are noticeable after a week of use. For a month, she loses 4 kg of excess weight.
Cinnamon with honey for weight loss
Cinnamon infusion with honey
Ingredients:
- Cinnamon - 3 gr.
- Lemon - ½ pc.
- Ginger - 10 gr.
- Honey - 15 ml.
- Water - 100 ml.
How to cook: Cool boiled water to 50 degrees, add ginger and cinnamon, mix. Cover with a lid, warm with a towel, let it brew for half an hour. Squeeze out the lemon juice, mix with honey, add to the infusion.
How to use: Take on an empty stomach ½ cup.
Result: Reviews of those who have lost weight say that the infusion retains a feeling of satiety for a long time. The first results are noticeable after a week of application.
Water with cinnamon and honey
To prepare a drink with cinnamon and honey, water is used, with a temperature not exceeding 50 degrees. Under the influence of more high temperature the product of beekeeping loses its useful properties. Reviews of losing weight say that the drink helps to get rid of extra pounds in a short time.
Ingredients:
- Water - 250 ml.
- Cinnamon - 7 gr.
- Honey - 20 gr.
How to cook: Boil water, cool a little, add spice. Cover with a lid, leave for at least 30 minutes. Put honey in a warm liquid, stir.
How to use: Take ½ cup 2 times a day: in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening, half an hour before bedtime. The course of admission is from 2 to 8 weeks.
Result: The drink normalizes digestion, removes toxins from the body, and prevents the deposition of fat.
Cinnamon for the face
Cinnamon is often used in cosmetology - added to face masks. The spice stimulates blood circulation, improves cell nutrition, and saturates them with vitamins. After the procedure, the skin may be slightly reddened. The reaction is fast.
The spice rejuvenates, tightens, cleanses the skin of the face. The rich composition improves the general condition of the epidermis, making it more elastic and radiant. The spice has an antibacterial effect, so masks based on it are used for problem skin.
Acne mask
Ingredients:
- Lemon juice - 5 ml.
- Honey - 1 tablespoon.
- Cinnamon - 10 gr.
How to cook: Pound honey with cinnamon until smooth, add lemon juice, mix.
How to use: Apply the mask on previously cleansed face for 15-20 minutes. Wash after the procedure warm water. The tool can be used every 2-3 days.
Result: The mask effectively eliminates pimples, acne, acne. Disinfects the skin, making it soft and supple.
Body Cinnamon
Cinnamon is useful not only for the skin of the face, but also for the body. It disinfects, heals, nourishes, moisturizes, tightens the epidermis. The spice is added to masks, scrubs and mixtures for cellulite wraps.
Scrub with cinnamon
Ingredients:
- Milk - 4 tablespoons.
- Oatmeal - 3 tablespoons.
- Cinnamon - 5 gr.
- Almond oil - 5 ml.
How to cook: Fill with hot milk cereals, cover with a lid, leave for 7-10 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.
How to use: Apply the scrub to the skin with massage movements, spread evenly over the body. Pay special attention to problem areas.
Result: Scrub eliminates body fat, enhances blood circulation, cleanses the skin of dead cells.
Cinnamon for hair
The spice is used not only for the skin, but also for the hair. It is added to ready-made cosmetics or homemade masks for curls. The spice strengthens and restores the hair structure, prevents hair loss.
Cinnamon hair masks
Thanks to its rich composition, cinnamon-based masks are suitable for all types of hair. The spice is combined with aloe to reduce the oiliness of the scalp. spice mix with vegetable oils suitable for dry type.
Hair Growth Mask
Ingredients:
- Bulb - 1 pc.
- Garlic - 4 cloves.
- Honey - 15 ml.
- Cinnamon - 10 gr.
How to cook: Rub the onion with garlic on a grater or use a blender, combine with the rest of the ingredients, mix.
How to use: Apply the mask to the hair roots, warm with a towel and keep for half an hour. After the procedure, wash your hair twice with shampoo.
Result: The mask enhances blood circulation of the scalp, stimulates hair growth.
Revitalizing mask
Ingredients:
- Cinnamon - 3 tablespoons.
- Macadamia oil - 5 ml.
- Coconut oil - 5 ml.
- Honey - 3 tablespoons.
How to cook: Melt Coconut oil, add honey, spice, macadamia oil, mix.
How to use: Apply the mask to dry hair, cover with a film, insulate with a towel. After half an hour, wash off the mixture with warm water and shampoo.
Result: The mask moisturizes and smoothes the hair, gives it shine.
Lightening hair with cinnamon
The spice is used to lighten curls, for this purpose it is added to shampoos, conditioners and masks. Means are distributed along the entire length, avoiding the scalp and basal region. Regular use of the spice makes hair 1-2 tones lighter. Below are reviews of its use for lightening hair.
Elena, 25 years old
I have had dark hair all my life. I wanted to change the image, but I didn’t want to resort to store paints. I read on the Internet that cinnamon and honey lighten curls. Every 2-3 days I made masks based on it. The result was not long in coming! The photo shows my hair before and after the procedure of lightening with cinnamon.
Maria, 39 years old
With age, the hair color began to fade, a friend advised me to make a mask based on cinnamon. After its application, the curls became more elastic, acquired a healthy shine, became lighter by a couple of tones.
Can pregnant women take cinnamon
Spice is good for the body future mother if there are no pathologies during pregnancy. The spice improves immunity, has an antiseptic effect and normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this, it should not be consumed in the early stages, as the spice can provoke uterine contractions.
During breastfeeding Cinnamon should be consumed 4 months after childbirth. It is necessary to introduce spice into the diet with HB very carefully so as not to cause allergic reaction at the baby.
Where to buy cinnamon
Real Ceylon spice is available at the grocery store and most supermarkets. The spice can be ordered in the online store. The packaging of natural cinnamon should be labeled Cinnamomum zeylonicum and the country of origin is Sri Lanka.
Price 100 gr. Ceylon spice in sticks is about 600 rubles. Ground spice costs 1000 rubles for the same weight.
You can buy essential cinnamon oil in most pharmacies. The cost of 10 ml of the product is 100 rubles.
What to remember
- Cinnamon is widely used in folk medicine, cooking and perfumery.
- The spice strengthens the immune system, lowers blood sugar, removes cholesterol, toxins and toxins.
- The spice is used for skin and hair care.
Collection BUSTAN BUDUR.
Does not contain fragrances, dyes, preservatives.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices on earth., known in ancient India and ancient Egypt. The Egyptians even used it to embalm pharaohs. To date The best cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon. This spice is considered one of the most festive spices and is one of the top three Christmas fragrances (along with the smell of citrus and vanilla).
For industrial use, cinnamon is grown for two years and then cut at the root. Later, about 10 new shoots are formed at the cut point during the year. And already from these shoots, when their length reaches 3 meters, and the diameter is at least 2.5 cm, the bark is cut off. It is dried, separated from the outer woody layer and left a thin, literally 0.5 mm, inner layer of the bark. It turns out a kind of meter brown strip, which, when dried, curls into a long tube. The strips are dried so that strips from several shoots enter one tube. For sale, long tubes are cut into pieces of 5-10 cm.
Due to the suitable climate, in India and Sri Lanka, this work is carried out 2 times a year, at the end of the rainy season.
The plant is not very whimsical. Cinnamon easily adapts to a variety of soils and climatic conditions, withstands adverse environmental factors. The cinnamon tree grows well at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. It is cultivated in non-irrigated areas with an average rainfall of 200-250 mm per year. On the western coast of India, the cinnamon tree is grown on sandy soils with poor mineral nutrition.
Cinnamon is used in different types - in the form of powder, sticks or tubes (the best is in tubes). Ideal for jams, preserves, compotes, dairy products and jelly. It is added to vegetables and fruit dishes(especially dishes with apples, quince, pears), puddings, sweet pies, buns, drinks. It goes well with carrot, red cabbage, corn and cucumber salads. AT oriental cuisine it is used for cold poultry dishes (turkey, chicken) and beef second courses (fried, stewed), in China and Korea - when cooking fried pork.
cinnamon good combined with other spices: cardamom, coriander seeds, zira, cloves, black and white pepper, bay leaf, nutmeg. In India, it is part of the national mixture of spices "garam masala", and in Chinese and Syrian cuisine - in the composition spice mixtures with black pepper, star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, paprika, coriander.
If you need to use whole cinnamon sticks in a spicy spicy seasoning(chutney) or in rice dishes chopsticks must be removed before serving food. Rather than buying ground cinnamon sticks, buy whole sticks, roast them dry, and chop them up when needed. Strong-smelling, slightly bitter cinnamon, usually sold in the market, comes in the form of thick individual pieces or comes in powder form. This is a faint resemblance to real cinnamon, the taste of which is subtle and sweet.
Cinnamon sticks - exclusive to Russian market spices. Real quality cinnamon sticks, not a ground substitute, are almost impossible to find.
Whole cinnamon is added not only during canning, but also in casseroles, rice, wine and punches, stir hot chocolate and coffee. The taste of cinnamon sticks is persistent, subtle and sweet.
Serve tea or compote cinnamon sticks - this will stir the sugar without a spoon, give wonderful aroma drink and looks original.
Chef's Tips:
- Cinnamon is used to flavor sauces, marinades, confectionery, jams, compotes, various dishes from cottage cheese, etc. Highly interesting taste cinnamon gives yogurt, Varenets, kefir.
- Cinnamon powder is better to buy in not large quantities- it quickly loses its flavor.
- The taste of cinnamon sticks is much more stable, although they are quite difficult to finely grind.
- Cinnamon powder is added only at the very end of cooking (no more than 10 minutes before the end), since with prolonged heat treatment, cinnamon will give the dish an unpleasant bitterness.
- For marinades and dough, you can use. It is many times more aromatic than dry cinnamon, so be careful with dosages.
Application of cinnamon:
On the whole cinnamon is added to liquid meals, in the hammer- in the second dishes and in the dough. Lay it 7-10 minutes before the readiness of a hot dish, and immediately before serving - in fruit salads, curd masses, drinks, etc.
AT various countries cinnamon is added to food different quantities. They put it especially a lot in oriental, Indian and Chinese food- an average of 0.5 to 1 teaspoon per 1 kilogram of food.
At Ceylon cinnamon the aroma is sweetish and very delicate, so it is most often used in confectionery production and culinary.Add it to cookies, muffins, gingerbread cakes, sweet pies with fruit filling, as well as in puddings and sweet pilafs, compotes, jams, mousses, jelly and curd pastes.
In modern Western European cuisine, cinnamon can be found in fashion fruit salads and even in some vegetables. She is goes well with spinach, carrots, red cabbage and milk corn, as well as apple, quince and pear dishes. Also add it to cold fruit soups from fresh or dried fruits.
In Eastern, Central Asian and Transcaucasian cuisine, cinnamon is added when preparing cold and hot dishes and poultry and second courses of lamb.
Cinnamon can be found in kharcho, chikhirtma and most different pilaf. In China and Korea, they believe that cinnamon ennobles the taste. fatty meat. Cinnamon is also included in a variety of dry spice mixtures - curry, Yerevan mixture, dessert Christmas mixture, spices for mulled wine, as well as in mixtures for fruit, mushroom and meat marinades. Cinnamon is used to flavor liqueurs, punches, grogs, homemade drinks and desserts.
As an aromatic condiment they use not only the bark, but also the so-called "cinnamon buds" - immature cinnamon fruits, collected immediately after flowering and outwardly similar to cloves. The "buds" are less fragrant than the bark, but their smell is very interesting - soft, clean and sweet (to achieve maximum fragrance, they must be very finely ground). This spice is loved in China (although cassia fruits are harvested here) and in India (the state of Gujarat). Indian and Thai culinary experts also value the leaves of the Chinese cinnamon tree as an aromatic addition to curries. The leaves are very similar to bay leaves, but smaller and thinner.
In Russia with cinnamon, milk soups, pancakes, cereals and jellied fish, in Transcaucasia, it was added to dishes of meat, vegetables and beans, put in soups (for example, in kharcho and chikhirtma) and in lamb pilaf. In Belarus, soaked lingonberries were flavored, and in Ukraine they were used for pickling cucumbers and salting watermelons. However, not only in Ukraine. Even in "Domostroy" a rather curious recipe for such storage of watermelons is given.
The warm, charming aroma of this spice goes especially well with apples, pears and chocolate, so real gourmets always add a whisper to cappuccino coffee. grated chocolate and cinnamon. Or, for example, classically prepared stuffed eggplant or Greek stew from lamb are simply unthinkable without cinnamon.
Cinnamon like magic fairy, can turn the simplest dish into a treat - for example, cinnamon toasts sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon turn into a favorite treat at traditional tea parties at Oxford and Cambridge colleges.
One of culinary highlights In France, cinnamon muffins from Bordeaux (le canelle de Bordeaux) are considered. They were invented by economical nuns. In the holds of ships that delivered flour, they collected leftovers, kneaded them with butter and sugar, filled bronze molds sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon with dough. In a hot oven, the sugar caramelized, and the cupcakes turned out fragrant and festively elegant - smooth and shiny. In some European countries cinnamon, along with ginger, is often added to homemade beer, which probably came from the tradition of treating yourself to warm beer or spiced wine (mulled wine) at Christmas.
The bark contains 1-2% essential oil, consisting mainly of cinnamic acid aldehyde (about 90%), as well as some tannins. The smell of the bark is fragrant, pleasant, the taste is sweetish, spicy and slightly astringent. To cinnamon contains essential oils, as well as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, resin, starch, tannins, magnesium, dietary fiber, iron, calcium.
Calorie 1 tbsp. spoons - 6 kcal
Medical uses of cinnamon:
The beneficial properties of cinnamon stem from 3 main components that make up the essential oil: cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, cinnamic alcohol.
This spice also contains poisonous substance coumarin, which in large quantities can adversely affect the liver. According to EU regulations, the content of coumarin in food products should not exceed 2 mg per kg. That small amount of cinnamon that we use, for example, with food, is not dangerous to health. But trying to normalize blood sugar levels by eating cinnamon with spoons is harmful. Also use with caution in people who:increased nervous excitability, early pregnancy, hypertension, use with caution in the elderly.
- In medicine, it is used as an antiseptic.
- Alcoholic extract of Chinese cinnamon bark is active against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, has a detrimental effect on tubercle bacilli and viruses.
- Cinnamon helps to increase appetite, improve digestion, normalize the work of the stomach and intestines. Activates the work of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder.
- Avicenna claimed that cinnamon oil was a wonderful remedy for trembling limbs, and today homeopaths use cinnamon as a remedy for seasickness.
- Cinnamaldehyde prevents the formation of blood clots.
- Cinnamon essential oil has an anti-microbial effect, inhibits the growth of fungi, including Candida yeast.
- Cinnamon is able to normalize blood sugar levels. Studies show that less than half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder lowers blood sugar levels, increases insulin activity and the ability of cells to absorb and use glucose.
- The aroma of cinnamon activates the brain and functions such as attention and visual memory.
- The dietary fiber and calcium in cinnamon may help prevent colon cancer. Calcium and fiber bind bile salts and remove them from the body, thereby preventing the damage that salts can do to colon cells. Fiber also helps prevent constipation and diarrhea.
- Cinnamon added to tea and mixed with fresh ginger can be used for colds and flu as a warming agent.
- Cinnamon is great cosmetic product! Her oil is good for cellulite, to increase the volume of the lips and tighten the skin, as well as remove dandruff and stimulate hair growth.
The magical properties of cinnamon
In magic Cinnamon is credited with many different properties at once. Cinnamon belongs to the element of fire, according to various sources, it is a plant of the Sun, Jupiter and, more rarely, Mars. The ruling sign of the zodiac for cinnamon is Leo.
The fiery properties of the plant are amazingly illustrated by one legend. You all know about the magical bird Phoenix, a symbol of immortality, rebirth, the Sun. Her colors symbolize rising Sun. And you all know that once every 500 years, a bird builds a funeral pyre for itself and burns itself, so that in three days it will be born again from the ashes. But few people know that the funeral pyre must be made from wild cinnamon leaves. The phoenix ignites the cinnamon by flapping its wings under the rays of the sun and, enveloped in cinnamon fire, burns, mixing its ashes with the ashes of the cinnamon.
Who knows, maybe it is this connection with the Phoenix that gives cinnamon such magical properties as protection, healing, purification, love, psychic perception. The occult meaning of cinnamon is good.
In the language of flowers In the Victorian era, cinnamon meant: "My fate is in your hands." In Austria, lovers exchanged bouquets, which included cinnamon, symbolizing tenderness and love.
The aroma of cinnamon helps to gain independence and originality, strength and confidence. Cinnamon is very actively used in aromatherapy. In winter, its aroma helps to get out of the winter blues, warms, revitalizes, spurs to action. The magical power of cinnamon helps to restore faith in oneself and hope for the best, and simply give a good mood. Are you lacking creativity? Arrange yourself an evening with a cinnamon smell, and a thirst for living, creating, striving for the most complete use of your time will appear.
Cinnamon is also known for its properties to attract money. It is also used in love potions. Cinnamon brings success, prosperity, attracts good luck.
Cinnamon was especially respected in China. There it means immortality, the Tree of Life in paradise, a tree on the moon, good luck, ascent to greatness.
Here are some specific tips for the magical use of cinnamon:
To improve well-being can be added to the purse or wallet a little bit ground cinnamon(preferably combined with mint). If you have a large purchase, rub dried mint between your palms with a small amount cinnamon and imagine how everything spent is returned to you three times.
And here is the curious ritual for job seekers. For the ritual you will need a pure candle white color, one black, green and brown, candlesticks for them - so as not to be afraid to leave candles unattended until they burn out, dry leaf or patchouli oil and cinnamon (cinnamon oil can be used).
In complete privacy, sit down at the table, light incense, place a bowl of water and a towel next to you. Imagine your problems and failures. Take a black candle in your hands and warm it with your hands. Imagine how all your problems will burn in its flame. Sprinkle the candle with patchouli powder from the bottom up, but only it - the rest of the candles should remain intact. Put it in a candlestick in the center of the table. Rinse your hands of patchouli. Sprinkle the other three candles with cinnamon. The white candle is you. Position it so that it rises above the black one. You must set yourself up to rise above problems and get a good job. Green is a symbol of future prosperity. Sprinkle it with cinnamon, think about it. Put it on the right. Brown is work. Mentally formulate for yourself what specific job you want to get and keep it in your head. Place the candle to your left.
Light a white candle with the words: "What I ask is rightfully mine."
Light a black candle with the words: "Sadness will burn, the enemy is defeated."
Light a brown candle with the words: "Find a job I like."
Light a green candle with the words: “Luck will come! May it be so!"
Candles should burn out completely. It is not necessary to be near them. Now you are ready to interview and actively search for a job. But don't expect it from heaven. Take action! Search, go to interviews, post resumes. And the performed ritual will help you conduct this search purposefully, consciously and calmly.
Actively use cinnamon in combination with basil - for making a love talisman. The same combination is suitable for the manufacture of witchcraft ink, basil is added for love, and cinnamon for the mind.
But don't overdo it. Cinnamon essence can be used not only to attract love, but also to induce disgust.
And finally, variant of divination with cinnamon. Wait for the rain, not heavy, but with large drops, in summer these are not uncommon. Think about your question and hold out a cookie or cake heavily sprinkled with cinnamon in an open palm in the rain.
Return to the house and look at the marks left on the cinnamon. In the peace and quiet of your home, focus and try to understand what exactly the rain painted on the cinnamon. This will be the answer to the question.
Compound: whole bark of the cinnamon tree Cinnamomum verum.
Weight: 70 gr
Production:Kharnoub Establishment, Damascus, Syria.
Raw material: Sri Lanka.
GOOD LUCK IN ALL GOOD BEGINNINGS!
A popular spice originally from India won our hearts too. It is used in cooking and cosmetology, in medicine and aromatherapy, and even in interior design. Pleasant fragrance and aesthetic appearance make cinnamon sticks simply an indispensable attribute of the interior, served table and kitchen. Most people consume crushed spice almost daily, but they don't even know that there are also cinnamon sticks. How to use and how to grind them correctly, we will tell you in this article.
How to use cinnamon sticks in coffee?
Cinnamon is a favorite additive for coffee lovers. It gives the drink an indescribable aroma and specific unusual taste. As a rule, at home it is stored already in a ground form, in powder, however, it is believed that it is cinnamon sticks that retain their beneficial properties and aroma much longer.
There is no specific advice for their use in coffee. Add one piece to the cezve while brewing coffee, and then take it out. So its taste will be fully revealed in the drink, but will not give up its bitterness. For lovers instant coffee we would advise you to use it already crushed, as the taste is revealed, as a rule, with a short boil.
How to grind cinnamon sticks at home?
Cinnamon is a common spice; on store shelves you can find both cinnamon sticks and a chopped version in bags. However, there may not be a ground version, what do we do with a non-ground variation and how to grind them?
The first thing most people will do is a grater, blender or coffee grinder. The idea is good, but it won't work. Cinnamon sticks are very dense and contain moisture, resulting in uneven chunks that are unusable.
Fresh spice will not only retain almost all of its beneficial properties, unlike the already chopped store-bought version, but will also spread a magical aroma throughout your kitchen.
Cinnamon sticks for weight loss
One of the most known properties cinnamon - acceleration of metabolism and energy exchange. The use of oriental spices will start all the processes of the body with renewed vigor and therefore its use is simply indispensable in losing weight.
by the most popular recipe using spices is a cinnamon infusion. The preparation of such an infusion will not cause any difficulties. Into a glass hot water you need to add a spoonful of spices and a spoonful of honey and, having cooled, drink half an hour before the first meal.
Useful properties of cinnamon
As we have already said, cinnamon is an activator of accelerating metabolism, however, in the oriental spice lies just a storehouse of irreplaceable and useful properties:
- Stimulates the production of endorphins;
- Activates brain activity;
- Reduces the amount of sugar in the blood;
- In combination with honey and lemon, it is very useful for colds and SARS;
- Is a good aphrodisiac;
- Good effect on the digestive system;
- Acts as a sedative and relieves stress.
Application in traditional medicine
With such an abundance of useful properties, it is simply impossible not to use the popular Indian spice as a folk remedy:
- Cinnamon is a natural antibiotic. Add a little spice to any perishable product and you can not be afraid that it will go bad;
- Taking a quarter of a teaspoon of spice a day can significantly reduce blood sugar levels, which will positively affect the treatment of diabetes;
- To normalize the work of the stomach in a glass of warm water, you need to dissolve a teaspoon of cinnamon and honey and drink in the morning before meals;
- For cosmetic and anti-inflammatory purposes, a spoonful of cinnamon powder with honey should be diluted with water to a paste, this mixture is applied to the face as a cleansing and soothing mask, and inflamed teeth and gums are also treated by applying such a paste for fifteen minutes.
Fragrant spice is really incredibly useful, but its contraindications also make a small list:
- Pregnancy and lactation;
- Increased excitability;
- High blood pressure;
- Epilepsy;
- Heat;
- Allergic reactions.
How to distinguish a fake from a natural product?
Many manufacturers are not entirely honest with their consumers and often give out plant sticks. cassia for cinnamon. What for? Cinnamon is a more expensive product to produce and process, so in order to save money, manufacturers use a cheaper analogue.
In order not to fall for such a trick and enjoy a natural quality spice, below are some tips to help you choose it:
- Pay attention to the country of origin, for a real spice it will most often be Ceylon;
- The real spice has a uniform light brown color, while cassia varies in color and even turns into a dark gray;
- Cinnamon has more delicate taste and aroma, while cassia has a more tart and sharp aroma;
- Ceylon natural unground cinnamon is thinner and more fragile on the cut, cassia is more coarse and dense;
- You can also check its quality at home. by chemical means- if you drop iodine on a natural spice, the color will not change, but in cassia, the color of iodine will turn dark blue.
Cinnamon sticks are a spice that has won the hearts of people who love warmth, comfort and delicious aroma. A wide range of uses in weight loss, cooking, treatment, traditional medicine, cosmetology and aromatherapy made cinnamon sticks simply indispensable. How to use, grind them at home and how to choose the right quality spice and distinguish it from a fake, we told you in our article.
Video: ways to determine natural cinnamon
In this video, traveler Olga Rogozina will show you how to distinguish this spice from a fake:
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