Warm apple pies and spicy chai teas are fragrantly infused with the sweet spice called Cinnamon. It is the scent of Christmas – warming mulled wine and festive aromatic fruit cakes and puddings and has many medicinal uses. It also used in savoury dishes offering sweetness and heat to Indian curries, Moroccan tangines and Oriental roast pork and duck. This exceptional and essential pantry spice can be bought as perfect scrolls or quills, small chips of bark or powder.
Cinnamon, a native of Sri Lanka, is obtained from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree. Cinnamon verum which translates to “true cinnamon” is more expensive than the cassia variety and is often employed for its medicinal properties taken as a tea, in cooking or as a herbal tincture (prescribed by your Herbalist or Naturopath).
Cinnamon Medicinal Uses
Uses Digestive disorders
Cinnamon is warming, antispasmodic, its stimulates appetite and digestive juices it is perfectly indicated for indigestion, gas and bloating, stomach upset and diarrhoea. It is often combined with other common digestive herbs such as Dandelion root, Fennel seed, Chamomile flower and Gentian root. When combined with Wormwood and Blackwalnut it is typically used to combat parasites. Eugenol, a constituent of cinnamon oil is often found in toothpastes and mouth washes and acts as a local anaesthetic and antiseptic. Its natural sweetness is used to satisfy sweet cravings when added to teas and recipes.
Respiratory disorders
Cinnamon is an excellent way of helping to eliminate excess mucous and is also beneficial for fighting infections and inflammation of the respiratory tract – the simple common cold, cough and sinusitis are relieved and comforted.
Musculoskeletal & circulatory disorders
Acting as a warming, circulatory stimulant it is indicated for chilblains or poor peripheral circulation leading to cold hands and feet.
Cinnamon Recipes
Aromatic Hot Mulled Wine
Ingredients
1 bottle of wine or cider (Choose an amazing quality organic wine or apple cider as a base.)
5 tablespoons of raw honey
1/2 cup of dried cranberries or currants
1/2 cup of blanched almond flakes
1 fresh orange sliced with skin
Spices: 3 cinnamon quills, 3 cloves and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
Directions
- Simmer for 1 hour on low to medium heat
- Serve hot in mugs.
Honey Cinnamon Baked Ham
Ingredients
1 cup of raw honey
2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sea salt flakes
5–6kg ham leg, skin removed (purchase a free range and pastured ham from a quality butcher and cover the hock with baking paper and foil to prevent it from burning)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F)
- Place the honey, cinnamon, mustard and salt in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine
- Bring to the simmer, reduce heat to low and cook for another 5 minutes until it slightly thickens
- Place the ham in a baking dish lined with non-stick baking paper
- Brush ham with the honey cinnamon glaze
- Roast for 35–40 minutes, brushing with the glaze every 10 minutes, or until the ham is golden and caramelised
Other everyday foods & recipes using Cinnamon:
Add to a Smoothie with Vanilla
Sprinkle on Yoghurt
Make an Aromatic Chai Tea
Add to a teapot – 1 cinnamon quill crushed, 1 clove bud, 1 teaspoon of English breakfast tea, 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla bean powder, a pinch of freshly cracked pepper, 1 teaspoon of raw honey and 1 cup of boiled water. Infuse for 5 minutes, strain and serve with frothy milk and cinnamon sprinkles. Serves 1.
Make a Mexican Hot Chocolate
Add to a small pot – 2 cups of organic milk, 1 teaspoon of raw cocoa powder, a pinch of chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 tablespoon of raw honey. Whisk to combine while simmering over medium heat. Serves 2.
Expert Advice: Choose the True Cinnamon variety as it is naturally sweeter. Buy organic as non organic cinnamon is irradiated and can lose its medicinal properties.
