The Best Cinnamon Sticks to Spice up Your Sweet and Savory Dishes

Cinnamon is not a huge mystery for most people. It is a commonly used seasoning that many of us are familiar with since our childhood. While all cinnamon may come from the bark of specific genus Cinnamomum trees, it branches out into different forms and types. Here is a detailed buyer’s guide to help you pick the right cinnamon sticks for your needs.

Guide To Different Types of Cinnamon Sticks 

There are hundreds of local, non-commercial cinnamon varieties that we use for various purposes — baking, cooking and medicine — all across the globe. But we have shortlisted our guide to a ‘few’ main types because of their wide availability. Cinnamon is primarily split into two categories: Ceylon and cassia. They are differentiated by the way they are harvested, their taste, their smell and the chemical compounds found within them. Let’s take a closer look at each. 

Ceylon cinnamon 

Ceylon (Cinnamomum verum) was originally unearthed in Sri Lanka during the Age of European Exploration. Its mild and delicate taste pleased people so much that it started the spice trade in the region. It is often regarded as the ‘real cinnamon’ with its subtle and complex flavor, that carries floral and clove notes. 

This cinnamon category appears light brown in color, has thin skin and is fairly crumbly. Since it is usually processed by hand, these sticks are much thinner and finer in texture. It has a mild floral scent with citrusy notes. Ceylon is very popular in Asia and Mexico. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find it in the U.S. Your best bet is to check out the mail-order spice services or specialty grocery stores. It is readily available at Latin grocers because they are great stockists of candela, the Mexican name for Ceylon. This spice is great for champurrado, bread, cinnamon rolls and pastry. 

Cassia cinnamon

Cassia is the spice that most of us recognize as cinnamon, the red-brown sticks and powder that is common in spice cabinets and grocery stores across the country. It is darker in color, rougher in texture, and rolled into sticks that are thicker than Ceylon cinnamon sticks. Its higher potency also made it the go-to for home cooks and industrial producers. A small piece of cassia stick or a dash of this special powder goes a long way. 

Cassia cinnamon is further divided into three types — Saigon, Chinese and Indonesian. Not only do these vary in their place of origin, but they all also have different levels of flavor and purposes. 

Saigon cassia is an intensely fragrant and flavorful spice. Almost spicy, it is a preferred cassia variety for savory dishes, but people also use it for adding more flavor to their desserts like coffee cakes and baked oatmeal. 

On the other hand, Chinese cassia is not as commonly used in the States. It has a strong bitter taste and is mainly used in China for medicinal purposes. Additionally, it is also used to give cinnamon ice creams, cream pies and chocolate-stewed fruits a spicy kick. 

Then there is the sweetest and most mild of the cassia cinnamons, the Indonesian cassia. It is the most readily available cinnamon variety in the U.S. and is commonly used in cinnamon rolls, cookies, quick bread and more. 

Factors To Consider Before Purchasing Cinnamon Sticks

When it comes to purchasing cinnamon, most of us opt to purchase it in ground form and pretty much randomly. Let us tell you that freshly ground cinnamon sticks offer more flavor and aroma, hence are a better choice. In this section, we go over some factors that you should always consider when shopping for cinnamon sticks. 

Origin 

As you already know from the discussion above, there are different varieties of cinnamon sticks available on the market. The most common around the U.S., cassia cinnamon, is the one most of us have known all our lives. It is sourced from China, Indonesia, or Saigon. This spice has a potent, piquant flavor that works wonders for savory dishes. 

The other variety Ceylon cinnamon, often known as the real cinnamon, originates from Sri Lanka. It is slightly sweeter and more subtle, hence is the right choice for desserts and smoothies. 

You should know about the different places of origin before you can decide which cinnamon sticks to get. 

Fairtrade 

Cinnamon is a prized spice much celebrated throughout the centuries for its distinct flavor and warming effect as well as its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial and other medicinal properties. It is a sustainable plant that grows well without pesticides and also regenerates quickly after it has been harvested. To make sure that the farmers who harvest the spice get a decent wage for their hard work, you should choose fair-trade cinnamon. 

Type of dish 

You should also choose this spice according to the type of dish you are going to use it for. For example, if you are making smoothies, baked goods or meat marinades, using ground cinnamon would yield better results because these are either cooked briefly or not at all. Cinnamon sticks, in contrast, need time to release their flavor. You should use these for recipes that call for at least an hour of steeping or cooking time. 

Appearance 

Cinnamon sticks are obtained from the bark of the cinnamon tree. After it is harvested and dried, it forms strips that curl into rolls, hence the name cinnamon sticks. The appearance of these sticks is a major contributing factor to their price. 

The sticks usually roll about 80%, 90% or 100%. A tighter roll means more cinnamon bark and a more uniform appearance, hence a higher price tag. 

Cinnamon sticks can not be any thinner than 0.9 inches. So if they appear thicker, their quality could be higher. You also get to choose between peeled and unpeeled cinnamon. And let us tell you, peeled cinnamon sticks may be higher in quality, but they tend to cost more because of the extra effort that goes into their production.