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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Foods and herbs for long term health and longevity Re: A leverage point we all can do something about

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  • From: Ben Martin Horst <ben.martinhorst@gmail.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Foods and herbs for long term health and longevity Re: A leverage point we all can do something about
  • Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2012 18:48:59 -0700

My understanding is that there are two species of cinnamon in international
commerce: cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is the most common cinnamon
found in US stores, and "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), which is more
commonly used in some other countries, such as Mexico. Apparently there are
several cultivars of C. verum, but I don't know any more than that. C.
verum has a more delicate, nuanced, sweet flavor. My guess is that you've
been using C. verum, and what you recently found is C. aromaticum, or
perhaps a rarely-imported cultivar of C. verum (or possibly the
lesser-traded C. burmannii or C. loureiroi).

I don't know anything about health effects of cinnamon other than its use
in moderating blood sugar levels (and possibly blood pressure?), and that
it is frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. C. aromaticum
contains a significantly higher level of coumarin, so there are official
warnings about excessive consumption in some countries.

On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 5:29 PM, Lawrence F. London, Jr.
<lflj@bellsouth.net>wrote:
>
> About cinnamon: I was shopping in Whole Foods the other night and bought
> a quantity of common cinnamon, the variety with the sweet smell;
> Frontier brand, in bulk. They offered another variety with an Indian
> name that I had never seen or heard of before. This has a cinnamon-like
> smell but not as sweet and a little peppery, perfect for stir fry mixed
> with hot red pepper and possibly black or white pepper; lemon grass
> might also be good in this mixture of seasonings.
> Anyone know anything about varieties of cinnamon other than the most
> common and whether it can be included in the group of foods and herbs
> promoting health and longevity?
>




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