Ceylon Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices. It is a key part of many kitchens. When we research Cinnamon Grades we can find different grades, each with its traits and uses.
Long ago, in Ancient Egypt, Ceylon cinnamon was one of the first traded spices. Apart from its history, cinnamon comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum Verum tree. This evergreen tree is native to Sri Lanka. The name “Ceylon” for cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka’s old name (Sri Lanka used to be called Ceylon).
Do you know how cinnamon is made? Farmers carefully remove the inner bark from cinnamon trees. They let the bark dry into cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon sticks are then sold or ground into powder. Growing and harvesting cinnamon requires skill and care.
Ceylon cinnamon comes as quills, quillings, chips, and powder. We can use cinnamon essential oil and other supplements too. There are two kinds of labels for cinnamon sold. Most sellers label cassia as true cinnamon (75% of cinnamon sold in the US is Cassia). Do not confuse cassia with true Ceylon cinnamon. But you can buy cassia at a very low price compared to Ceylon Cinnamon.
True cinnamon is golden-brown and contains many tight and soft layers in the stick rather than a single coiled strip of bark. Also, compared with cassia and other varieties, Ceylon Cinnamon has a milder flavor profile and a sweeter, spicy taste.
As one of our favorite household spices, we have many uses, especially in medicinal applications, sweet baked goods (Cinnamon rolls), flavored beverages, sprinkled on lattes, desserts, and savory curries.
Understanding and communicating the grades You should know the following words:
| Quills | Synonym for the sticks. The number of cinnamon quills per kilogram. |
| Cut quills | The term “cut quills” refers to cinnamon sticks that have been cut. cut into 5-inch, 7-inch, or full bales. |
| Quillings | Quillings may contain featherings and chips |
| Feathering | Feathering may contain up to 10% by mass of chips |
| Chips | Chips shall be made from well-dried, hand-picked, clean, unpeeled cinnamon bark |
Therefore, you may notice the above words in markets when you are buying cinnamon or selling it. In addition, we identify the following standard cinnamon grades in the market: Most importantly, the grades differ from the diameter size of the sticks:
Further, ALBA is the top seller of cinnamon in the US market.
| Color | Pale brown (golden brown) to slightly reddish color Ground cinnamon has a strong aroma and is yellowish to reddish-brown in color. |
| Aroma | fresh aroma characteristic |
| Flavor | Ceylon cinnamon has a delicate and sweet flavor that distinguishes it from others. |
| Moisture | Not more than 15% for quills and 12% for other grades |
| Volatile Oil | A minimum of 1% for quills and 0.7% for other grades on a dry basis. |
The finest grade of Ceylon cinnamon, known for its delicate aroma, smooth texture, and premium quality.
A premium grade of Ceylon cinnamon similer to ALBA, celebrated for its rich aroma, smooth texture, and ideal for gourmet use.
An economical grade of Ceylon cinnamon, offering a balanced aroma and quality, ideal for everyday use.
A popular choice in Latin American countries, known for its bold flavor and aromatic qualities.
A top seller in Latin American countries like Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Honduras, appreciated for its rich flavor and strong aroma.
Cinnamon Storing
The cinnamon storage warehouse should be a cool, dark, and dry place in a sealed package. And, we carefully watch the warehouse ventilation and proof against the entry of insects.
FULL BALE: (42-inch sticks) full-bale cinnamon pack uncut long sticks (quills) are packed with an inner poly liner and wrapped in Jute Hessian cylindric bales. Therefore, the weight varies depending on customer requirements (25 kg–45 kg).
Quillings: Broken pieces of varying sizes of all grades of cinnamon quills are packed in poly bags or jute bags each 25 kg to 50 kg as per the customer’s requirement.
Cinnamon cuts: usually packed in rubber-banded bundles or 1 kg packaging in corrugated cartons. 20 kilos, 25 kilos, and up to 40 kilos per carton. And, you can request different cut sizes; for example, 5 inches, 7 inches, 12 inches cut, etc.
Private label packaging: Cinnamon under your brand name. Therefore, you can request packaging according to your requirements. It can be a box, pouch, tin, can, or cinnamon bag.
Ceylon cinnamon made without using chemicals is good for you. Our farms have papers that say they follow rules set by the USDA, EU, and JAS. They do not use fake plant food, weed killers, or bug spray. This means the cinnamon is all-natural and healthy, Therefore, you get a transaction certificate (TC) for each cinnamon order to ensure organic production.
In addition, for all conventional cinnamon, we use sulfur treatment, which enhances the color profile of the stick. And, when it comes to organic cinnamon, the supplier should not use sulfur treatment. As a result, the sticks get a little dark in color.
However, whether you buy organic Ceylon cinnamon or conventional, there is no taste, aroma, or flavor difference between them.
Furthermore, by offering fair-trade certified cinnamon, we ensure fair-trade agricultural practices. Working under the Fairtrade International plantation management system, we were also able to improve the worker communities’ medical, housing, and educational facilities.