Cinnamomum verum[3] (synonymCinnamomum zeylanicum[4]), also calledtrue cinnamon orCeylon cinnamon is a smallevergreentree belonging to the familyLauraceae, native toSri Lanka.[5] The inner bark of the tree is historically regarded as the spicecinnamon,[4][6] though this term was later generalized to includeC. cassia as well.[4]
Cinnamomum verum trees are 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall. Theleaves areovate-oblong in shape and 7–18 cm (3–7 in) long. Theflowers, which are arranged inpanicles, have a greenish color and a distinct odor. Thefruit is a purple 1 cm (0.5 in)drupe containing a singleseed.[7]
The old botanical synonym for the tree,Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is derived fromSri Lanka's former name, Ceylon.[8] Sri Lanka still produces 80–90%[9] of the world's supply ofC. verum, which is also cultivated on a commercial scale in theSeychelles,Madagascar andTanzania.[10][11]
The trees grow as leafy bushes, usually reaching a maximum of 3 m (10 ft) in height. They are first harvested at 3 years old and continue producing well for 40–50 years. Small side branches, 1.5–5 cm (0.5-2 in) in diameter, are removed from the trees. The outer bark is removed and processed intomulch. Twigs, leaves and berries (seeds) are crushed to make cinnamon oil, a less valuable byproduct. The inner bark of the branches is loosened by being rubbed with a brass rod. The bark is then split with a brass or stainless-steel knife and peeled off as intact as possible. Long, full 'quills' of cinnamon are more valuable than broken pieces. These quills are then dried over several days in the shade, then in darkness. All this work is done by hand by experienced workers; this is the most expensive part of producing cinnamon spice. Finally, the dried bark is cut into sticks or ground into powder for sale to consumers.
The Sri Lankan grading system divides the cinnamon quills into four groups:
Alba, less than 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter
Continental, less than 16 mm (0.63 in) in diameter
Mexican, less than 19 mm (0.75 in) in diameter
Hamburg, less than 32 mm (1.3 in) in diameter
These groups are further divided into specific grades. For example, Mexican is divided into M00000 special, M000000 and M0000, depending on quill diameter and number of quills per kilogram. Any pieces of bark less than 106 mm (4.2 in) long are categorized as quillings. Featherings are the inner bark of twigs and twisted shoots. Chips are trimmings of quills, outer and inner bark that cannot be separated, or the bark of small twigs.[citation needed]
^"Cinnamon".Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008.(species Cinnamomum zeylanicum), bushy evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae) native to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), the neighboring Malabar coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma), and also cultivated in South America and the West Indies for the spice consisting of its dried inner bark. The bark is widely used as aspice due to its distinct odor.
