Why do Chinese people like to use it to stew meat, but foreigners like to use it to make drinks?

When the weather gets cold, we can't help but think of some strong spices, cinnamon is one of them. As for cinnamon, people seem to have a clear love-hate relationship, those who love it love it very much, while those who hate it can't stand the smell of it.

The cinnamon in cinnamon rolls and the cassia bark used in stews are both strong-smelling spices with the word "gui" in their names, but they are not the same thing and have different flavors and uses.

Image source: pixabay

Cassia vs Cinnamon

The barks of many plants in the Lauraceae family are often used as spices because they contain aromatic substances and have a special aroma.

In the concept of botany, what is called " cinnamon " in China is actually mainly the native Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), while what is often called " cinnamon " from abroad is basically Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum). These plants were previously classified in the genus Cinnamomum, but according to the latest research results published by the Institute of Botany, they may be classified in the newly named genus Cinnamomum in the future.

The different contents of cinnamaldehyde, linalool and eugenol in cassia bark and Ceylon cinnamon lead to different flavors and different uses. This article mainly distinguishes "cassia bark" (Chinese cinnamon) and "cassia" (Ceylon cinnamon) from the perspective of daily concepts, and introduces their different ways of eating~

What is cinnamon?

A good helper for cooking

Cinnamon is a must-have spice in almost every household. Compared with Ceylon cinnamon, cassia is darker in color, reddish brown, with a thicker and harder skin, and a more stimulating taste with a slightly bitter taste . This is why Ceylon cinnamon is often used in desserts and beverages instead of cassia.

On the left is Ceylon cinnamon, on the right is domestic cinnamon Image source: wiki commons / Antti Vähä-Sipilä

Cinnamon in China is mostly produced in Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and other places. According to different processing specifications, cinnamon can be divided into Guitong, Guixin and Guisui - the cinnamon without scraping off the outer layer is Guitong, the cinnamon with scraped off the outer layer is Guixin, and Guisui is a relatively broken cinnamon.

When it comes to the most common use of cinnamon, it is naturally added to dishes to remove fishy smell and add flavor. Stewing meat, braising, and stewing ... most of these ingredients related to meat dishes contain cinnamon.

In addition to being used as a spice alone, cinnamon is also an indispensable ingredient in compound spices such as five-spice powder and thirteen-spice powder. Neither prominent nor invisible, cinnamon is naturally integrated into Chinese cuisine.

**Ceylon cinnamon,** more suitable for baking and drinks

The "Ceylon" in Ceylon cinnamon actually refers to Sri Lanka, but in addition to Sri Lanka, Madagascar actually also produces Ceylon cinnamon. Cinnamon is the first spice to cross the Indian Ocean to reach the Western world, and it has been popular ever since it was introduced to the West.

Ceylon cinnamon is often made of multiple layers of thin cinnamon bark curled together. It is available in powder, sticks, and fragments. It has a crispy texture like paper, light brown color, and a sweet taste . Cinnamon is often used in foreign countries in the form of cinnamon powder , and its usage is quite diverse, including desserts, savory cooking, and alcoholic beverages.

Ceylon cinnamon bark, powder and dried flowers Image source: wikipedia/Simon A. Eugster

1

Desserts

Cinnamon rolls were born in Sweden, and are a direct product of Ceylon cinnamon entering Europe. Since 1999, Sweden has designated October 4th as Cinnamon Roll Day.

Cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls, as the name suggests, are a kind of sweet bread rolled with dough, cinnamon powder and sugar and baked (usually with a layer of butter on top). In addition to the baked version, cinnamon rolls also have a more sinful fried version called cinnamon bun donuts.

Image source: pixabay

Although they are all called cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls from all over the world are actually more or less different.

Cinnamon rolls in the Nordic region are as plain as their common Nordic style. In North America, most common cinnamon rolls are topped with a layer of white sauce made of cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, etc. In the UK, a square cinnamon roll is more common... But no matter how the flavor and shape of the decoration change, the most important cinnamon spice sweetness will never change.

If there is any fruit that goes perfectly with cinnamon, it must be apples. Apple pie, apple tart, cinnamon applesauce... they are all a combination of cinnamon and apples. The slightly sweet but not mushy apples and the just right aroma of cinnamon powder are just right for you.

Apples are fried with butter, sugar and cinnamon powder until they turn caramel color and then wrapped in a crispy crust. It is simply the king of desserts.

Cinnamon cookies, small cookies made with butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon, have a cracked surface, which is the first impression they give.

Compared with ordinary sugar cookies, the biggest flavor feature of the cookie is the cinnamon sugar wrapped in the middle of the dough . Since this type of cookie can use different baking powders, even if the ingredients are the same, the cookies can have a crispy or soft taste due to different fermentation.

In fact, there are more flexible ways to use cinnamon in desserts than I thought. French toast, chocolate, rice pudding, oatmeal... can all be sprinkled with cinnamon powder to make cinnamon XXX.

2

Savory cooking

Most meats go well with cinnamon, and famous dishes include Indian butter chicken and Greek Chicken kapama.

Indian Butter Chicken is a dish in which the crispy outside and tender inside roasted chicken is soaked in spices such as cinnamon and coriander seeds and butter . The aroma of spices and the taste of butter fill your nose.

Shawarma is a dish commonly found in Middle Eastern restaurants that is made of layers of grilled meat in an upright barrel. It is often marinated with spices such as cinnamon and then heated and baked for a long time . It is usually eaten as a sandwich or salad.

Greek Chicken kapama is a very typical Greek dish, with tomato sauce as the base, and then cinnamon, black pepper and other seasonings are added to the fried chicken and stewed until the sauce is reduced. Finally, it is poured over pasta or egg noodles for consumption. For many Greeks, cinnamon and tomato sauce are a perfect pair .

3

Beverages

A spice with such a unique talent as cinnamon is of course not limited to eating, but also expanded to drinking.

If other ways of eating cinnamon are to combine cinnamon with other foods, then when it comes to cinnamon tea , cinnamon becomes the undisputed protagonist.

Add cinnamon powder to the boiled water and stir evenly. After letting it sit for a few minutes, drink it directly. It is a cup of pure and strong cinnamon tea. You can also add honey or lemon to flavor it. If you want a richer taste, you can also use cinnamon tea to brew your favorite tea leaves or tea bags.

Of course, many coffee shops now offer cinnamon powder . If you are a serious cinnamon lover, you can sprinkle each cup of coffee with the amount of cinnamon powder that satisfies you.

Image source: pixabay

In recent years, cinnamon has gained many loyal fans thanks to the hot red wine that becomes popular every time the weather gets cold. Red wine is boiled with spices and fruits such as cinnamon, cloves, and oranges. The warm red wine is paired with a rich and complex aroma, which is delicious, easy to operate, and easy to arrange on a plate.

In fact, around Christmas, there is another wine related to cinnamon called eggnog. Traditional eggnog is made of milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks and whipped egg whites, mixed with strong liquor such as brandy/rum/whiskey or bourbon, and finally sprinkled with cinnamon powder (or nutmeg powder).

In short, whether it is the Ceylon cinnamon commonly used abroad or the cassia bark commonly used in China, the charming and heavy smell fits the warm atmosphere of autumn and winter.

Planning and production

Source: Food_Lab

Author | Hedgehog

Editor: Wang Mengru