Cinnamon
There are two main types of
cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is native
to Southeast Asia, especially southern
China and northern Vietnam, and has
the strong, spicy-sweet flavor most
Americans are familiar with. Vietnamese
and China cinnamon are the sweetest
and strongest varieties, with Korintje
cinnamon having a smooth flavor with
less bite. Our cinnamon sticks and
Korintje cinnamon both come from the
southwest coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.
It grows wild on the governmentprotected
slopes of Mount Kerinci,
where the cinnamon gets its name. We
stock the top Korintje A grade, although
there are also the lower B and C grades,
which are the types of cinnamon usually
sold in supermarkets in the U.S. Our
very sweet and strong Vietnamese
cinnamon comes from the remote
north and west regions of Vietnam. The
strength of the flavor of spices depends
upon the essential oil content—
the
higher the level, the stronger the flavor.
When orders for cinnamon come in,
the large sticks are cracked into slightly
smaller pieces and packed into burlap
bags for shipment.
The second type of cinnamon,
Ceylon, or "true" cinnamon, has a much
different flavor. It is less sweet, with a
more complex, citrus flavor. The special
flavor of English and Mexican sweets
comes from Ceylon cinnamon. We like to
recommend Ceylon Cinnamon for baking
with fruit—especially in apple pie. |
