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Cinammon – Cinnamomum verum
 |
| Laurus
cassia (Persea cassia, Cinnamomum cassia), cinnamon. Joseph Jacob
Plenck , Icones Plantarum Medicinal, Vol. 4, 1791. © Board of Trustees
RBG Kew |
Its origins were cloaked in mystery and all kinds of tall tales were
spread to keep people from finding out the truth about cinammon, such as
it being grown on top of a mountain guarded by ferocious birds who made
nests out of the cinnamon sticks.
The only way to get to it was by tempting the birds with hunks of
rotting meat which they would take back to their nest. The nest of
cinnamon would collapse under the weight and the sticks would fall to
the ground allowing the intrepid traders to grab them before they were
attacked. Of course, people eventually found out where it really grew –
in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Actually, most of what we buy today thinking it’s cinnamon is really a
different but related plant called cassia. It looks and tastes similar –
if a bit harsher – but is much cheaper than true cinnamon.
At Kew, we help verify plant material being sold is actually what it
claims to be, especially if it’s being sold for medicinal use. If you
buy cassia thinking it is cinnamon your mulled cider might not taste
quite as spicy, but it won’t do you any harm. Other plant imposters are
not quite so harmless (see Star Anise).
SOURCE: https://museumcrush.org/the-royal-botanic-gardens-guide-to-the-worlds-top-ten-spices/
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