The smell of fresh cinnamon makes many people feel like Christmas. However, cinnamon is not only suitable for the Advent season. Especially with warm desserts, such as porridge, the spice shines no matter the time of year. We will tell you in this post what types of cinnamon exist, what to look for when purchasing them, and how to best incorporate them into your healthy breakfast , we will cover.
The origin of the popular spice
Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the evergreen cinnamon tree. This tree belongs to the laurel family and is characterized by its juicy dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers.
During the production of cinnamon spice, the bark of the tree is stripped of its outer layers. The barksare then dried and rolled up. This process creates the well-known cinnamon sticks, which are particularly used in mulled wine. High-quality cinnamon can be recognized by its fine layers, which together resemble the shape of a cigar. In contrast, cheaper cinnamon usually consists of only one layer of bark.
However, cinnamon is not only available in stick form but also in ground form. This makes it easier to integrate into a wide variety of dishes and is therefore extremely popular. It is particularly good in this form for sweets, pastries, and tea—especially as a topping .
Even if it can be difficult to distinguish between varieties of ground cinnamon, it is still worth paying extra attention. This is because not all types provide the same desired health benefits.
Cassia or Ceylon – how do I recognize the varieties?
Cassia cinnamon predominantly comes from southern China. You can identify this variety by its thicker layers and dark appearance, as well as its intense smell. Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, is mostly produced in Sri Lanka or southern India. It is mainly characterized by its aromatic and less pungent taste.
However, Ceylon cinnamon is much more expensive, which is why the cheaper cassia cinnamon is often used, especially in the food industry. But what is the difference between the two? Why is cassia cinnamon cheaper?
The price primarily depends on the quality of the cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon tends to consist of thicker layers, while Ceylon cinnamon is characterized by its fine layers and is therefore considered to be of higher quality. This clarifies the issue.
Cassia or Ceylon – which variety is healthier?
Another question arises as well—does quality only affect taste? Or is one variety healthier than the other?
When looking at the ingredients of the cinnamon varieties, every expert would notice immediately. The coumarin content varies considerably. Coumarin is an aromatic phytochemical. In small quantities, it adds a pleasant spice to dishes. However, in larger quantities, it is potentially harmful to health.
Therefore, the answer to which variety is healthier is Ceylon cinnamon. This is because this variety contains significantly less coumarin and can therefore also be consumed in larger amounts with a clear conscience.
However, apart from the coumarin content, both types of cinnamon are extremely healthy. Now we will take a closer look at why this is the case.
Cinnamon remedy – the spice offers these health benefits
The ancient Egyptians already understood that cinnamon is healthy. At that time, cinnamon was considered one of the most important natural remedies and was even more expensive than gold. Even if the expected effects might have been somewhat exaggerated back then, there is still a grain of truth in those beliefs.
This is because cinnamon can actually do much more than one might expect. Specifically, cinnamon effectively regulates blood sugar levels, which helps with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, cinnamon also aids weight loss as it indirectly promotes fat loss.
The remarkable aspect is that cinnamon can exert its health benefits even in extremely small quantities. A mere one gram per day can have a significant positive effect on blood sugar levels. Furthermore, the bad LDL cholesterol is lowered, which positively impacts the cardiovascular system as well.
Why cinnamon is considered a natural remedy
Cinnamon has long been regarded as a natural remedy, as we have noted. This can be attributed to its positive properties. In addition to its blood sugar-regulating effect, cinnamon offers numerous other benefits.
On one hand, cinnamon stimulates appetite and intestinal activity. For instance, it can be specifically integrated into a hot breakfast like porridge to stimulate the appetite. On the other hand, cinnamon can also prevent bloating and flatulence, making it an excellent addition to the stomach-friendly porridge.
Additionally, cinnamon contains the essential oil eugenol. This has a disinfectant effect, making cinnamon a natural remedy for colds.
Furthermore, cinnamon also influences cholesterol levels, helping to lower LDL cholesterol, which is often referred to as harmful. Thus, the cardiovascular system also benefits from a daily serving of cinnamon.
However, cinnamon is also believed to assist with weight loss. We will now delve into how this can happen.
Does cinnamon actually help with weight loss?
Cinnamon can actually support fat loss by utilizing its blood sugar-regulating properties. When blood sugar levels rise, the body releases insulin to reduce them. While this may seem beneficial at first, the subsequent issue arises: When the body releases insulin too frequently, such as in prediabetic or obese individuals, fat burning becomes impaired.
The enzymes responsible for fat utilization are hormone-sensitive. This means that if insulin levels are too high, they cease fat burning, which inhibits fat loss.
However, for effective weight loss, fat must eventually be metabolized. That’s where cinnamon plays a role again. Because cinnamon can actually delay gastric emptying. This, in turn, leads to a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels. Consequently, less insulin needs to be released, allowing for more effective fat loss.
How to optimally integrate cinnamon into your diet
Regularly consuming cinnamon is therefore highly advisable, regardless of the actual motive. The health-promoting properties are beneficial for everyone. Nonetheless, cinnamon is not suitable for all dishes. Thus, we would like to introduce a few recipes with which you can easily incorporate your daily dose of cinnamon into your routine.
If you want to take your portion of cinnamon in the morning, you should definitely combine it with porridge. This combination is popular in the Ayurvedic diet for a reason. Warm porridge in the morning supports healthy digestion. Moreover, cinnamon provides a pleasant warmth and a unique taste experience.
However, the appeal of cinnamon goes beyond porridge; integrated into our delicious apple-cinnamon granola, it perfectly complements the fruity flavor of apples. We use healthy Ceylon cinnamon to make our gluten-free apple cinnamon granola, allowing greater consumption if desired by your body.
The gluten-free whole grain oatmeal flakes offer a generous serving of complex carbohydrates and digestive fiber. In contrast, the high-oleic sunflower oil provides healthy fatty acids. The gluten-free apple-cinnamon granola is completed with apple cubes and high-quality Ceylon cinnamon.
Overall, granola is extremely versatile and therefore the perfect addition to your breakfast or snack. Whether as a topping in yogurt, combined with milk, or as a crunchy snack in between meals—granola is always suitable.
Recipe: Bircher buffer
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 250 g stoppers
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 200 g Verival Bircher Porridge
- 50 g grated hazelnuts
- 600 g apples
- Oil
- Cinnamon, fruit, yogurt, applesauce of your choice
Preparation
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Beat the eggs, potatoes, and honey until creamy.
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Stir in Bircher porridge and hazelnuts.
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Let the dough steep for 20 minutes.
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Grate and mix apples.
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Shape the buffer and fry in oil.
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Serve the buffer with cinnamon, fruit, yogurt, or applesauce.
Nutritional values
Bircher buffers are one of our absolute favorite recipes for a great start to the day. They consist of our organic Bircher Porridge, vitamin-rich apples, protein-rich eggs, and potatoes. The buffers are enhanced with a pinch of cinnamon and grated nuts.
Try one of the recipes or check out our blog for more inspiration for your healthy breakfast.
Cinnamon is perfectly compatible with these spices
Cinnamon can work wonders in main courses for lunch as well. However, be sure to combine it with spices that complement its flavor. Let’s quickly explore which spices pair well with cinnamon.
For instance, cinnamon combines well with star anise, cardamom, coriander, ginger, and vanilla. It becomes a little spicier when combined with cinnamon, curry powder, chili, ginger, and salt—this mix spices up dishes from Asian cuisine, for example. Cloves should not be overlooked in winter mulled wine alongside cinnamon.
Ultimately, which blend you choose depends entirely on the dish you intend to create. It’s best to experiment with the mentioned spices and discover your favorite combination.
