Cassia Cinnamon: A Popular Spice Variety

Cassia cinnamon is derived from the Cinnamomum cassia tree and is a common type of cinnamon used worldwide. It has a stronger and spicier flavor compared to Ceylon cinnamon.

Cassia Cinnamon FAQ

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Where does cassia cinnamon come from?

Cassia cinnamon comes from the Cinnamomum cassia tree, also called Cinnamomum aromaticum. It originated in Southern China and is also known as Chinese cinnamon. However, there are several subspecies now widely grown across Eastern and Southern Asia ( 2 ).

Is Cassia the same as cinnamon?

So cassia is not necessarily another name for cinnamon; it is a completely different spice, although they are related. Cassia and cinnamon both come from the bark of a tree that is a member of the laurel family. To produce cinnamon, the tree's bark is harvested, dried and fermented, then its outer layer is removed.

What kind of Cassia is used in Cinnabon?

The one that's most common in the U.S. is Indonesian cassia, which is the mildest and sweetest of the three. (By the way, Indonesian cassia is the special ingredient used in Cinnabon's famous rolls, in case you were wondering.)

What is the difference between cinnamon & cassia?

Cassia, tree of the family Lauraceae and the spice made from its aromatic bark. Similar to true cinnamon, to which it is closely related, cassia bark has a more pungent, less delicate flavor and is thicker than cinnamon bark. Both cassia and true cinnamon are commonly sold as ‘cinnamon’ in North America.

Where is cassia cinnamon grown?

The Saigon variety of cassia cinnamon has been grown in Vietnam for a long time. Cassia cinnamon is one of several trees from the Cinnamomum genus and has been referred to as bastard cinnamon or false cinnamon; Ceylon cinnamon is called true cinnamon. The spice consists of bark from the cassia cinnamon tree.

Is Chinese cassia the same as Ceylon cinnamon?

Chinese cassia is a close relative to Ceylon cinnamon ( C. verum ), Saigon cinnamon ( C. loureiroi ), Indonesian cinnamon ( C. burmannii ), and Malabar cinnamon ( C. citriodorum ). In all five species, the dried bark is used as a spice. Chinese cassia's flavor is less delicate than that of Ceylon cinnamon.

What is the difference between cinnamon bark and cassia bark?

The bark of cassia Cinnamomum cassia is similar to that of true cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum ), to which cassia is closely related. Cassia bark has a more pungent, less delicate flavour and is thicker than cinnamon bark. It contains 1 to 2 percent oil of cassia, a volatile oil the principal component of which is cinnamic aldehyde.