Cinnamon stick

photo credit: gourmetsleuth

Other Names:canela, cinnamon bark

What is Cinnamon stick?

The cinnamon stick comes from the interior bark of a tropical evergreen tree. The cinnamon stick is the rolled up bark from the tree. There are two varieties of cinnamon, Cinnamon zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) and Cinnamon cassia (cassia) with the Ceylon cinnamon being "true" cinnamon.

Ceylon cinnamon is softer, easier to grind and has a sweeter but more pungent flavor. You can find this at Mexican stores under the name canela.

Cinnamon is used in many countries. In Mexico it is used a lot in Mexican beverages such as Mexican Chocolate and other dishes like mole sauce.

In India its used in many dishes, including my favorite Indian rice dish called Goan Rice PIlaf. In Europe it is commonly used in breads, cakes and pastries.

Substitute for Cinnamon stick

If you don't have cinnamon sticks:

You can substitute ground cinnamon for stick where appropriate (1 -3" stick = 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon).
For a different flavor profile, for each 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon substitute 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
OR 1/4 to half teaspoon nutmeg
OR equal amounts of pumpkin pie spice.

Equivalents

1 oz = 8 to 10 sticks (5" in length)
1 - 3" stick = 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

metric conversions →

World Spices

Ingredients

Whole cinnamon sticks, no preservatives or additives.

Easy Way To Grind Cinnamon Sticks

The easiest way to grind a hard (or soft) cinnamon stick is to break it up into pieces, place it in a small electric spice or coffee grinder. Don't put too much of the hard cinnamon stick in your grinder at one time. The blades can bind and the hard cinnamon is pretty rough on the blade. For Mexican cooking you can grind the canela sticks in a molcajete if you have one if you want to use the more traditional tool. A Thai Mortar will work for grinding the harder stick cinnamon.

Where To Buy Cinnamon Sticks

This is a pretty common grocery store item. Mostly you'll find the harder Cassia bark. Look for Ceylon cinnamon at grocery stores that feature Hispanic ingredients. Most of the ground cinnamon you buy is Cassia. You can also purchase Ceylon cinnamon online at Amazon.con

Nutrition Information For Cinnamon stick

Serving Size

1 tbsp

Calories

Calories from Fat

% Daily Value^*

Total Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 1mg

Potassium

34g

Total Carbohydrate 6g

Dietary Fiber 4g

20%

Sugars 0g

Protein 0g

Vitamin A 0%	•	Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%	•	Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Favorite Cinnamon stick Recipes

Indian Spiced Lamb Chops
Lamb Chops are cooked with traditional Indian spices including ginger, black cardamom, coriander, cumin black peppercorns, cloves and nutmeg.
Malaysian Sup Ekor (Oxtail Soup)
Sup Ekor is a classic Malaysian soup made with oxtails, potatoes, and spices including cinnamon, cumin, anise, and coriander. You can serve the soup with either rice or bread.
Ethiopian Berbere Spice Mixture
Berbere is an aromatic Ethiopian spice mixture used in stews called wats and for coating foods prior to frying. Make your own Berbere spice using these ingredients which most can find in your local well-stocked grocery store.
Curry Chicken
Curry Chicken recipe based on a recipe by Madhur Jaffrey, this spicy chicken is flavored with a traditional Indian spices including cardamom, pepper, chiles, turmeric, garlic, ginger, cumin as well as fresh coconut and tomatoes.

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