The Gentle Cinnamon

Peace Tea drinker,

I pray your week is flowing in peace, love and wholeness if not I wish that upon you Ase'! Today tea time is about Cinnamon and Cinnamon tea and all of the great benefits! Now let's steep into it!

What is Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum.

Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snack foods, teas, and traditional foods. The aroma and flavour of cinnamon derive from its essential oil and principal component, cinnamaldehyde, as well as numerous other constituents including eugenol.

Cinnamon is the name for several species of trees and the commercial spice products that some of them produce. All are members of the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae. Only a few Cinnamomum species are grown commercially for spice. Cinnamomum verum is sometimes considered to be "true cinnamon", but most cinnamon in international commerce is derived from the related species Cinnamomum cassia, also referred to as "cassia". In 2018, Indonesia and China produced 70% of the world's supply of cinnamon, Indonesia producing nearly 40% and China 30%. Wow interesting right??

A little Cinnamon History!

Cinnamon has been known from remote antiquity. It was imported to Egypt as early as 2000 BC, but those who reported that it had come from China had confused it with Cinnamomum cassia, a related species. Cinnamon was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a deity; a fine inscription records the gift of cinnamon and cassia to the temple of Apollo at Miletus. Its source was kept a trade secret in the Mediterranean world for centuries by those in the spice trade, in order to protect their monopoly as suppliers.

Cinnamomum verum, which translates from Latin as "true cinnamon", is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Cinnamomum cassia (cassia) is native to China. Related species, all harvested and sold in the modern era as cinnamon, are native to Vietnam ("Saigon cinnamon"), Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries with warm climates.

In Ancient Egypt, cinnamon was used to embalm mummies. From the Ptolemaic Kingdom onward, Ancient Egyptian recipes for kyphi, an aromatic used for burning, included cinnamon and cassia. The gifts of Hellenistic rulers to temples sometimes included cassia and cinnamon.

The first Greek reference to kasía is found in a poem by Sappho in the 7th century BC. According to Herodotus, both cinnamon and cassia grew in Arabia, together with incense, myrrh and labdanum, and were guarded by winged serpents. Herodotus, Aristotle and other authors named Arabia as the source of cinnamon; they recounted that giant "cinnamon birds" collected the cinnamon sticks from an unknown land where the cinnamon trees grew and used them to construct their nests. LIke Cinnamon is one cool spice!

Tea note: Ceylon cinnamon may be crushed into small pieces by hand while Indonesian cinnamon requires a powerful blender.

What is Cinnamon Tea?

Cinnamon tea is an herbal tea made by infusing cinnamon bark into water.

How do other regions use cinnamon tea?

In Chile, té con canela ("tea with cinnamon") is made by placing a cinnamon stick into the teapot when steeping black tea.

In Korea, Cassia cinnamon barks used to make gyepi-cha

Gyepi-cha ("cinnamon tea") is a traditional Korean tea made from cassia cinnamon barks. Thicker sticks of cinnamon with purplish-red cross-section and strong fragrance are used. Dried cinnamon sticks are simmered either whole or sliced with a small amount of ginger. When served, the tea is strained and optionally sweetened with sugar or honey, and then is usually garnished with minced jujubes.

In Lebanon, shaayi bil qirfah wa’l yansoon ("anise and cinnamon tea") is made by boiling aniseed and cinnamon (powdered or sticks) in water. Optionally, black tea may be added. The tea is strained and served with or without added sugar.

What are the benefits of Cinnamon tea?

Research has shown that regular cinnamon supplementation may result in lower levels of blood sugar, believed to be caused by reduced insulin sensitivity. For those suffering from Type 2 diabetes, this can be important, as high blood sugar must be constantly monitored. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Birmingham, UK, and published in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Journal, showed that 7 men taking cinnamon regularly experience increased insulin sensitivity for at least 12 hours.

In another study conducted by a team of French researchers and published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition, a consumption of 500 mg of cinnamon powder daily for not less than 12 weeks might have led to a 14 percent drop in the oxidative stress levels among those with insulin resistance. This is important, as a study published in the Recent Patents on Inflammation and Allergy Drug Discovery Journal, has called oxidative stress as the potential reason for people developing various kinds of chronic diseases, that include Type 2 diabetes.

Cinnamon lightly detoxes your body.

Cinnamon tea contains lots of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that help keep you healthy. Antioxidants fight off oxidation caused by free radicals, which are molecules that damage your cells and contribute to diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Cinnamon is particularly rich in polyphenol antioxidants. A study comparing the antioxidant activity of 26 spices reported that cinnamon is only outranked by cloves and oregano

research shows that cinnamon tea can increase total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which is a measure of the amount of free radicals your body can fight off

compounds in cinnamon may reduce markers of inflammation. This may be immensely beneficial, given that inflammation is thought to be at the root of many chronic diseases, including heart disease.

Studies also report that cinnamon may reduce blood pressure, as well as triglyceride and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in some individuals

cinnamon may increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, which helps improve your heart health by removing excess cholesterol from your blood vessels.

Tea note: A review of 10 studies found that consuming as little as 120 mg of cinnamon — less than a 1/10 teaspoon — each day may be sufficient to help you reap these benefits

Cassia cinnamon, in particular, contains high amounts of natural coumarins, a group of compounds that helps prevent the narrowing of blood vessels and offers protection against blood clots.

Cinnamon has some potent antibacterial and antifungal properties.

A test-tube research showed that cinnamaldehyde, the main active component in cinnamon, prevents the growth of various bacteria, fungi, and molds

These include common Staphylococcus, Salmonella,and E.coli bacteria, which can cause illness in humans.

Tea note: cinnamon antibacterial effects may help reduce bad breath and prevent tooth decay

Oh wow tea drinkers the power of cinnamon tea is amazing! I hope this blog made you more informed about cinnamon tea! We always aim at dijah house of tea to educate our readers on the benefits of drinking tea so that you can make healthier tea decisions. Shop dijah house of tea for all your tea needs! Remember to be the light in your own life first then share it with others Ase O!