Canela

Canela is the Spanish word for cinnamon. This cinnamon used in Mexican cooking is the softer loose-bark variety grown in Ceylon rather than the more commonly found hard-stick cinnamon. Canela is easily ground in a molcajete or other mortar and pestle (including your electric coffee/spice grinder).

Where To Find Canela

You can find canela in most any Mexican market or some specialty stores.  You may also purchase it online at Amazon.com.

Read more about Canela

If you don't have canela you can substitute:
Hard stick cinnamon
OR Ground cinnamon
OR Cinnamon extract
OR For a different flavor try ground nutmeg oOR ground allspice. See below for equivalent amounts whole, to ground, to extract.

1 - 3" (7.5cm) stick = 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 - 3" stick = 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon extract