You may think that the cinnamon you buy from a store is simply, well, cinnamon. But actually there are four different types of cinnamon, and they are not all equal.
Of the four, two are not commonly found in Australia. These are Korintje Cinnamon, from Indonesia, and Saigon cinnamon from Vietnam. We will leave those alone for now.
The two varieties that are common in Australian shops are Cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon. And I would strongly suggest sticking to Ceylon when you go shopping.
Cassia Cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon, from the Cinnamomum cassia tree, originates from China. It is darker in colour than the Ceylon cinnamon, has a stronger flavour and generally more coarsely ground. Cassia cinnamon is considerably cheaper than Ceylon cinnamon and is the variety you will most likely find on supermarket shelves.
Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon comes from the tree Cinnamomum verum (hence it's other name, 'true cinnamon'). It originates in Sri Lanka and southern India. The Ceylon variety is a paler colour and its sticks are tightly bound with soft layers. It is less common, and more expensive than the Cassia variety.
What's the difference between the two?
Aside from taste and cost, the most significant difference is the amount of a compound called coumarin. Coumarin is found in several different plant species, and can be very toxic in high doses. In rodents, coumarin is known to cause kidney, liver and lung damage.
The accepted Tolerable Daily Intake of coumarin is 0.1mg/kg. Cassia cinnamon contains approximately 1% coumarin, which means that if you have just 1-2 teaspoons you have already exceeded that daily limit. Ceylon cinnamon, by contrast, has only 0.004% (that's 250 times less!).
General Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon has since generations been prized as a helping to manage blood sugar levels. Various studies have shown that cinnamon may reduce blood sugar spikes, increase insulin sensitivity and improve metabolic markers associated with insulin resistance.
Some research has also found that some of cinnamon's bioactive compounds appear to block a protein called tau from accumulating in the brain. Tau buildup is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
What do we use at Totally Nuts?
We have only ever used Ceylon cinnamon at Totally Nuts!
Sources:
Healthline : health.com